Proving Night

Proving Night is an Elvhen custom for marriage in where one must prove their worthiness for their future spouse.

Proving Ceremony
In order to marry their intended, the male elf must go through Proving Night, where they are stripped down to only their trousers. He then must brawl in hand-to-hand combat with all the males in his intended's house or family. If his intended does not posses any male members in her family, he must then fight a dozen male volunteers, and triumph over each brawl. If he does not succeed in beating all of the males, the marriage is then seen as unlucky and may be encouraged to break off. Should he succeed, then the marriage is later consummated as the wedding party will then celebrate with great enthusiasm and blessings upon the new couple.

Male Couples
If both in the question are males and wish to marry, Proving Ceremony will then differ. Males are stripped bare and then are painted with the war paint of their house and station by their female family members. The men are then required to act as "prey" through a hunt. The hunters in question must capture one of the couple to deem the marriage as unlucky. If one is captured however, the other is able to rescue them, but both being captured then signals an unlucky match, the marriage then opposed by their houses or families.

The Proving Ceremony for two males start at midnight, the ceremony ending at dawn or when both are captured. If neither are captured, the marriage is blessed and quickly encouraged to complete consummation after a period of rest.

Female Couples
If both in question are females and wish to marry, one of the females will then be 'kidnapped.' The one who is free must be able to track and find their partner and is given until midnight to find them successfully. The female who is kidnapped can free themselves, but must be wary, for they are guarded by the 'Proving Guard' who are composed of both of the couples families.

If they are unsuccessful and are not able to find each other by midnight, the marriage is deemed unlucky and encouraged to end. If they are successful, the women are then encouraged through consummation and given blessings by their families.