If I choose an elf and my mate chooses a nord how do we go playing together as opposing factions? Can I choose an elf and join ebonheart? cheers

Depends, a dunmer also know as a dark elf is in the same alliance as the nord, so you can play together at some point i guess. And if you pre-order you can play as any race in any alliance, so yeah, i suppose you can play any elf within the ebonheart pact.

With the "almighty glorious collectors edition" you can play what ever race in what ever alliance plus you get to play as an Imperial if you'd like.
However, this is suppose to be a war between three different alliances, so no, you're not supposed to actually be able to play any race in any alliance.

Just to correct you there, any player who pre-orders can play any race on any faction. The "Almighty Glorious Collector's Edition" just as the Imperial race, Rings of Power, horsie and crab pet.

But if you don't pre-order you can't play cross faction, it's as simple as that. However I think there's cross-Alliance guilds for communication and trade purposes, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thank you Ravenlocke, it's become a bad habbit of blaming the CE for everything hahah

I wouldn't say it's a "bad" habit. ^^

It's a bad one when I make mistakes like these