You’ll want to know how to get married in Skyrim so you can reap the benefits of having a spouse. Below you’ll find everything you need to know about who and how to marry.
Why Get Married in Skyrim
There are a few reasons why getting married could be beneficial for you. To start, you will receive the Bond of Matrimony, which is a ring that grants you a 10% reduced cost for restoration spells. Additionally, you’ll be able to get the Lover’s Comfort resting bonus by sleeping in the same bed as your spouse. This bonus gives you an experience increase of 15% for eight hours. Lastly, if you own a home, your spouse will give you 100 gold once per day and a home-cooked meal which regenerates health, stamina, and magicka.
Who Can You Marry in Skyrim
No matter which race or gender your character is, Skyrim does not restrict your marriage options. In other words, a human male could easily marry a male orc. However, only certain people are open to marriage. You must get on your chosen partner’s good side—usually through quests—before they will be open to marrying you.
Best Women to Marry
Marrying any of the women below will give you the same benefits in terms of finances and the rest bonus. Who you choose to marry will likely come down just to personal preference, but there are a couple of factors you may want to consider. For example, some women come with their own property, which you would then own once you’re married. Additionally, some of these women are warriors while others are not. So, if you’re seeking a companion to aid you in battle, you may want to choose one of them. If you’re looking to keep someone around to train you in a certain area, you’ll want to marry someone with Trainer status who has your desired expertise.
Note that in the table below, DLC options are marked with an asterisk.
All Female Marriage Options
| Name | About | Perks | Location | Marriage Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aela the Huntress | Nord, Werewolf, member of The Companions | Archery Trainer, Follower | Jorrvaskr in Whiterun | Complete Companions questline |
| Aeri | Nord, Mill Operator | Owns Aeri's House | Aeri's House in Anga's Mill | Chop Firewood for her |
| Anwen | Redguard, priestess of Dibella | None | Temple of Dibella in Markarth | Complete Heart of Dibella quest |
| Avrusa Sarethi | Dark Elf, Apothecary | Owns Sarethi Farm | Sarethi Farm, northwest of Riften | Complete favor: Smooth Jazbay Quest |
| Borgakh the Steel Heart | Orc, Orsimer warrior | Owns Larak's Longhouse, Follower | Mor Khazgur, southwest of Solitude | Convince her to become a follower |
| Brelyna Maryon | Dark Elf, apprentice at College of Winterhold | Follower | College of Winterhold | Complete favor: Brelyna's Practice quest |
| Camilla Valerius | Imperial, Pawnbroker | Owns Riverwood Trader | Riverwood Trader | Complete The Golden Claw quest |
| Dravynea the Stoneweaver | Dark Elf | Alteration Trainer | Kynesgrove, south of Windhelm | Complete favor: Dravynea's Frost Salts quest |
| Ghorza gra-Bagol | Orc, Blacksmith | Smithing Trainer | Markarth | Complete favor: Skilled Apprenticeship quest |
| Gilfre | Imperial, Mill Operator | Owns Gilfre's House | Mixwater Mill, south of Windhelm | Chop firewood for her |
| Hilund* | Nord, Warrior | None | Thirsk Mead Hall, south of Skaal Village | Complete favor: Hilund Favor quest |
| Iona | Nord, Housecarl, Warrior | Follower | Honeyside in Riften | Become Thane of the Rift |
| Jenassa | Dark Elf, Mercenary | Follower | Drunken Huntsman in Whiterun | Hire her at least once |
| Jordis the Sword-Maiden | Nord, Housecarl, Warrior | Follower | Proudspire Manor in Solitude | Become Thane of Haafingar |
| Lydia | Nord, Housecarl, Warrior | Follower | Dragonsreach in Whiterun | Complete Dragon Rising quest and purchase Breezehome |
| Mjoll the Lioness | Nord, Adventurer/Warrior | Owns Aerin's House, Follower | Riften | Complete Grimsever's Return quest |
| Morwen* | Nord, Smith’s Apprentice | Owns Morwen's House | Skaal Village | Complete favor: Skaal Village Dialogue |
| Muiri | Breton, Apothecary’s Assistant | None | The Hag’s Cure in Markarth | Complete Mourning Never Comes quest (also kill Nilsine and must be proprietor of the store to sell Apothecary merchandise) |
| Njada Stonearm | Nord, member of The Companions | Block Trainer, Follower | Jorrvaskr in Whiterun | Complete the Companions questline |
| Orla | Nord, Priestess of Dibella | None | The Temple of Dibella in Markarth | Complete The Heart of Dibella quest |
| Rayya* | Redguard, Housecarl | Follower | Jarl's Longhouse in Falkreath | Become Thane of Falkreath |
| Ria | Imperial, member of The Companions | Follower | Jorrvaskr in Whiterun | Complete the Companions questline |
| Senna | Imperial, Priestess of Dibella | None | Temple of Dibella in Markarth | Complete The Heart of Dibella quest |
| Shahvee | Argonian, Tanning Rack Worker | None | Argonian Assemblage, outside of Windhelm | Retrieve Shahvee's Amulet of Zenithar |
| Sylgja | Nord, Miner | Owns Sylgja's House | Shor’s Stone | Complete favor: Special Delivery quest |
| Taarie | High Elf, Shop Owner | Owns Radiant Raiment | Radiant Raiment in Solitude | Invest in her store |
| Temba Wide-Arm | Nord, Mill Operator | None | Ivarstead | Complete favor: Chop Wood quest or Grin and Bear It quest |
| Uthgerd the Unbroken | Nord, Warrior | Owns Uthgerd's House, Follower | Whiterun | Challenge her to a brawl and win |
| Viola Giordano | Imperial | Owns Viola Giordano's House | Windhelm | Rat out Revyn Sadri during his favor |
| Ysolda | Nord | Owns Ysolda's House | Open Market in Whiterun | Complete favor: bring her one Mammoth Tusk |
Best Men to Marry
The same logic for the best women to marry in Skyrim applies to men as well. Depending on which type of benefits you’re looking for, you’ll want a different partner. Check out the list below to see which Skyrim residents are available for marriage and any extra perks they might bring along with them.
Note that in the table below, DLC options are marked with an asterisk.
All Male Marriage Options
| Name | About | Perks | Location | Marriage Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ainethach | Breton, Miner | Owns Karthwasten Hall | Karthwasten in The Reach | Clear Sanuarach Mine of mercenaries |
| Angrenor Once-Honored | Nord, Beggar | None | Windhelm | Give him one gold piece |
| Argis the Bulwark | Nord, Warrior | Follower | Vlindrel Hall in Markarth | Become Thane of the Reach |
| Athis | Dark Elf, Warrior, member of Companions | One-handed Trainer, Follower | Jorrvaskr in Whiterun | Complete the Companions questline |
| Balimund | Nord, Blacksmith | Owns The Scorched Hammer, Smithing Trainer | The Scorched Hammer in Riften | Complete favor: Stoking the Flames quest |
| Belrand | Nord, Spellsword | Follower | The Winking Skeever, Solitude | Hire him at least once |
| Benor | Nord, Warrior | Follower | Morthal | Challenge him to a brawl and win |
| Calder | Nord, Warrior | Follower | Hjerim in Windhelm | Become Thane of Eastmarch |
| Cosnach | Breton, Warrior | Follower | Silver-Blood Inn in Markarth | Challenge him to a brawl and win |
| Derkeethus | Argonian, Ranger | Follower | Darkwater Crossing | Find and rescue him |
| Farkas | Nord, Warrior, member of The Companions | Follower, Heavy Armor Trainer | Jorrvaskr in Whiterun | Complete the Companions questline |
| Filnjar | Nord, Blacksmith | Owns Filnjar's House | Shor’s Stone | Complete Mine or Yours quest |
| Gat gro-Shargakh | Orc, Miner | None | Left-hand Mine/Kolskeggr Mine | Clear Kolskeggr Mine for Pavo Attius |
| Ghorbash the Iron Hand | Orc, Ranger | Follower | Dushnikh Yal | Convince him to become a follower |
| Gregor* | Nord, Warrior | Follower | Heljarchen Hall | Become Thane of the Pale |
| Halbarn Iron-Fur* | Nord, Blacksmith | None | Thirsk Mead Hall, south of Skaal Village | Complete favor: Halbarn Favor quest |
| Marcurio | Imperial, Mage, Sellsword | Follower | The Bee and the Barb in Riften | Hire him at least once |
| Moth gro-Bagol | Orc, Blacksmith | None | Understone Keep in Markarth | Complete favor: Coated in Blood quest |
| Octieve San | Breton, Elderly citizen | None | Solitude | Complete favor: A Few Words With You quest |
| Omluag | Breton, Smelter | None | Markarth | Complete A Few Words With You quest |
| Onmund | Nord, Sorcerer, Student at College of Winterhold | Follower | College of Winterhold | Complete favor: Onmund's Request |
| Pavo Attius | Imperial, Miner | Owns Pavo's House | Left-hand Mine/Kolskeggr Mine | Clear Kolskeggr Mine for him |
| Perth | Breton, Miner | None | Soljund's Sinkhole, east of Sky Haven Temple | Clear Soljund's Sinkhole for him |
| Quintus Navale | Imperial, Apothecary | None | The White Phial in Windhelm | Complete Repairing the Phial quest |
| Revyn Sadri | Dark Elf, Store Owner | Owns Sadri's Used Wares, Speech Trainer | Sadri’s Used Wares in Windhelm | Complete favor: Plant a stolen item |
| Roggi Knot-Beard | Nord, Miner | Follower | Kynesgrove, south of Windhelm | Retrieve Roggi's Ancestral Shield |
| Romlyn Dreth | Dark Elf, Thief | Owns Romlyn Dreth's House | Black-Briar Meadery in Riften | Complete favor: Under the Table quest |
| Rulnik Wind-Strider* | Nord, Mage | Follower | Temple of Kynareth in Whiterun | Choose the Altar of Nothing during A Dying Wish quest |
| Scouts-Many-Marshes | Argonian, Dock Worker | Light Armor Trainer | Argonian Assemblage in Windhelm | Complete favor: A Few Words With You quest |
| Sondas Drenim | Dark Elf, Vendor | None | Darkwater Crossing | Complete favor: Deliver a note |
| Sorex Vinius | Imperial, Innkeeper | Owns The Winking Skeever | The Winking Skeever in Solitude | Complete favor: Deliver a bottle of rum |
| Stenvar | Nord, Mercenary | Follower | Candlehearth Hall in Windhelm | Hire him at least once |
| Torvar | Nord, Warrior, member of The Companions | Follower | Jorrvaskr in Whiterun | Complete the Companions questline |
| Valdimar* | Nord, Sorcerer | Follower | Windstad Manor | Become thane of Hjaalmarch |
| Vilkas | Nord, Warrior, Werewolf | Follower, Two-Handed Trainer | Jorrvaskr in Whiterun | Complete the Companions questline |
| Vorstag | Nord, Warrior | Follower | Silver-Blood Inn in Markarth | Hire him at least once |
| Wilhelm | Nord, Innkeeper | Owns Vilemyr Inn | Vilemyr Inn in Ivarstead | Complete Lifting the Shroud quest |
How to Get Married in Skyrim
There are just a few simple steps to get married in Skyrim, and they’re pretty similar no matter which partner you decide to pursue.
How to Get an Amulet of Mara
The first thing you will want to do to get married in Skyrim is complete whichever quest or task is required for your desired partner. Once you’ve done this, you’ll need to get an Amulet of Mara. These can be obtained in several places, but the most efficient route for getting one is to go to Riften and talk to Maramal, a Redguard priest and member of the Cult of Mara. He will either be in the Bee and Barb or the Temple of Mara. Buy the amulet from him for 200 gold, and then ask him about marriage.
How to Propose
Luckily, you don’t need to do a whole lot to propose in Skyrim. Simply put on your amulet of Mara, go speak with the person you wish to marry (after you’ve completed their quest or favor), and you’ll be able to ask them to marry you.
How to Hold a Wedding
Speak again with Maramal, and he will set up your wedding. Note that once you speak with him, your wedding will take place within the next 24 hours. You should stay at the Temple and wait for periods at a time to ensure you don’t miss your wedding. If you miss it, you could end up standing up your spouse and miss the opportunity to marry them entirely.
How to Divorce/Remarry in Skyrim
Unfortunately, without mods, there is no way to get a divorce and remarry in Skyrim. If you are so sick of your spouse that you just can’t look at them anymore, your only option is to kill them off. But even after they’re dead, you will not be able to remarry.