First published in 1954-1955, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy—The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King—quickly won worldwide admiration approaching cult status. That love of all things Middle Earth was only amplified by Peter Jackson’s three-part film adaptation, released annually from 2001 to 2003.
One of the most fascinating phenomena to come of that widespread obsession is a craze for Hobbit-style weddings and Elvish-style weddings. The Internet abounds with resources to help fans of Tolkien’s books wed with all the trappings of Middle Earth.
Lord of the Rings Wedding Traditions
It isn’t difficult to have a Lord of the Rings wedding (or, to use the popular shorthand, LOTR wedding). Incorporate one or more of the following elements into the proceedings to have a ceremony that either subtly evokes Tolkien’s books or fully recreates their fantasy world.
- Elvish invitations. Using the script devised by linguist Tolkien, wedding invitations, translated from the language of bride and groom, can be typeset and printed in Elvish (accompanied by translations for those who do not know the language). Framed after the wedding, such invitations become an exquisite keepsake for the bride and groom.
- Middle Earth jewelry. Bride and groom can exchange licensed replicas of jewelry from Peter Jackson’s trilogy of movies, including the golden “one ring”; the Evenstar pendant given by Arwen, the immortal Elf, to her human love Aragorn; and the leaf brooches worn by the Fellowship of the Ring. It's also easy to find LOTR jewelry all over the Internet!
- Rehearsal dinner viewing parties. It’s not uncommon for rehearsal dinners the night before a Lord of the Rings style wedding to conclude with a showing of one or more of the films on DVD. Becoming so deeply involved in Tolkien’s fantasy world is a perfect way to forget about wedding jitters.
- Wedding attire. Bridal gowns in the style of the movie costumes may frequently be found listed for sale on eBay. And other gown-makers create spectacular dresses inspired by the movie. They possess an uncanny ability to make a bride look ethereally beautiful.
- Wedding hairstyles. A skilled hairdresser should be able to recreate the hairstyles seen in the movies. See How to Plait a Herringbone Braid, for example, to achieve a style like that worn by Legolas.
- Authentic settings. With destination weddings remaining a hot trend, wedding celebrations can now be arranged in some of the exact idyllic New Zealand countryside locations used for the movie.
- Movie music. The Academy Award-winning score composed by Howard Shore for The Lord of the Rings is available on CD. Many enthusiasts now use it for their processional, recessional, or incidental music during Lord of the Rings wedding ceremonies. Or use other Music Inspired By Lord of the Rings.
May the wedding day be a blessed one! (Looking for other wedding tradition ideas? Check out How to Have a Traditional Irish Wedding and How to Have a Traditional Greek Wedding. Looking for the perfect diamond ring? See How to Judge a Diamond’s Quality and Shape.)
Norman Kolpas - I've been writing about lifestyle topics–including food, travel, art, design, books, theater, and movies–since the ...
