How To Get A Wife In Skyrim Marriage Options And Requirements
Marriage in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim provides players with practical mechanical perks as well as a grounded sense of roleplay inside Tamriel. Finding a spouse requires understanding a specific set of steps, acquiring a unique religious item, and earning the favor of eligible candidates across the province. Whether you are looking for a skilled battle companion or a quiet shopkeeper to share a home with, the bonding process is straightforward once you know the core prerequisites.
Obtaining the Amulet of Mara and Starting the Process
To begin seeking a spouse in Skyrim, your hero must first express interest in marriage by speaking with Maramal in the city of Riften. He is usually located inside the Temple of Mara or drinking at the Bee and Barb tavern. After inquiring about the customs of marriage in Skyrim, you can purchase the Amulet of Mara directly from him for two hundred gold coins.
Equipping this enchanted religious necklace signals your open interest in romance to specific non-player characters throughout the world. Without wearing the amulet, prospective partners will not offer dialogue options regarding courtship or marriage. You can also occasionally find the necklace as random dungeon loot or receive it as a reward during specific temple quests.
Fulfilling Disposition Requirements for Prospective Wives
Before a potential wife will accept a proposal, you must raise her disposition toward your character by completing a personal favor or quest. This requirement varies greatly depending on the candidate you choose to pursue across the game's various holds. Tasks can range from delivering a simple letter to clearing out a dangerous bandit camp or retrieving a stolen heirloom.
Certain companions automatically become eligible for marriage after you complete their associated faction storylines or hire them as hirelings. Once a character's personal quest is finished and you are wearing the amulet, a new dialogue option will appear allowing you to propose. Choosing this dialogue prompts your partner to agree and directs you back to Riften to arrange the official ceremony.
Popular Marriage Options and Character Roles
Skyrim features dozens of female candidates from various races, backgrounds, and professions, allowing players to tailor their choice to their playstyle. Popular options include Aela the Huntress, a formidable warrior and werewolf from the Companions faction in Whiterun. Other prominent choices include Ysolda, a merchant trader in Whiterun, and Mjoll the Lioness, a righteous adventurer residing in Riften.
Selecting a spouse who double as a follower offers substantial tactical benefits during your journeys across the wilderness. Companion wives can fight alongside you in combat while still granting traditional spousal benefits when resting at home. If you prefer a quieter arrangement, non-combatant wives will remain at your chosen residence to manage household affairs.
The Wedding Ceremony and In-Game Spousal Benefits
After proposing, speak with Maramal in Riften to arrange the wedding ceremony, which is scheduled for the following day between dawn and dusk. Arriving on time is crucial, as missing the scheduled time slot will cause the ceremony to fail and offend your partner. Once the vows are exchanged, you and your new wife can decide where to establish your primary home together.
Marriage grants several long-term mechanical perks that bolster your character's progression and survival efforts. Your spouse will open a small shop that generates one hundred gold coins per day, accumulating over time even while you are away adventuring. Additionally, sleeping in the same house as your wife grants the Lover's Comfort bonus, boosting skill learning speed by fifteen percent for eight hours.