Elder Scrolls
Register
Advertisement
Elder Scrolls
For other uses, see Marriage.

Marriage is a gameplay element in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. After obtaining the Amulet of Mara, the Dragonborn has the option to engage in marriage with an eligible character. There are no eligible Khajiit, Bosmer, male Redguard, or male Altmer candidates. Those that can be married generally require that a specific task be completed beforehand. Whether the partner is a merchant or not, after marriage, they are able to purchase and sell general goods, also allowing the Dragonborn to collect a daily portion of their profits from their "work." Every 24 hours, the Dragonborn can ask their spouse how business is faring to receive a share of 100 Gold. If the share is not collected, the gold accumulates.

Marrying

Obtaining the Amulet of Mara

Proposing

Maramal must be asked about marriage in Skyrim before any dialogue related to the Amulet of Mara shows up.

The new dialogue is unlocked with certain characters if the Dragonborn is both wearing the amulet and has met the requirement relating to the individual, usually a quest. The Dragonborn can then express their wish to marry the person. Once that is done, they can speak to Maramal at the Temple of Mara about arranging the wedding.

Wedding ceremony

MarriageSkyrim

A wedding ceremony taking place.

The ceremony will start no sooner than approximately 24 hours. one of the easiest ways to make time move faster is to rent a room at the bee and the barb and sleep there for 24 hours. Maramal alludes to the ceremony time being constrained between dawn and dusk; however, the ceremony can happen at any given hour of the day. During the ceremony, the Dragonborn has one last chance to affirm the marriage before the ceremony proceeds. Upon accepting the marriage, Maramal makes the marriage official and gives the Dragonborn The Bond of Matrimony.

Characters for whom quests have previously been completed or other characters who disposition is positive may appear at the wedding ceremony as guests. If the Dragonborn already owns any houses, then the corresponding housecarl(s) may also be present. In the case of a few potential spouses, characters who are important to that character may appear as well.

If the Dragonborn misses their wedding ceremony, they can approach the intended partner and ask for another chance. Maramal will then agree to host another ceremony, the next day.

Married life

Once the marriage ceremony is complete and the Dragonborn addresses their new spouse, the spouse will inquire where the Dragonborn wants to live. If the spouse owns property, that will be presented as an option; the Dragonborn may also select any of the house(s) they currently own. The selection need not be permanent; relocation to any of the available homes is available at any time by initiating the appropriate dialogue with the spouse.

If the spouse is the Dragonborn's housecarl, "their house" is the applicable house of the Dragonborn that they are responsible for.

Once married, the behavior of the spouse changes. Most notably, the tone of voice and behavior changes and they will often refer to the Dragonborn as "love" or "dear" from that point on. However, if the Dragonborn marries one of their housecarls, the Dragonborn will still be referred to as "my Thane" using subordinate dialogue.

If the Dragonborn's spouse relocates to a different city from where they originated to live in one of the Dragonborn's houses, they may indicate that they wish to become a shop owner to keep occupied while the Dragonborn is out adventuring.

Once a day, the Dragonborn can ask their spouse to cook something. The spouse will make a homemade meal, which increases the regeneration of Magicka, Health, and Stamina.

If the Dragonborn sleeps in the house with the spouse, the Dragonborn will receive a temporary bonus called "Lover's Comfort" that boosts the rate of skill-learning by 15% for 8 hours. However, this bonus cannot be obtained if the Lover Stone is activated (a workaround can be used with the Aetherial Crown), or if the Blood Ritual has been taken to become a Werewolf.

If the Official Plug-in Hearthfire is installed, marriage can also include children. The Dragonborn's adopted child will also be adopted by the spouse, as well as instantly move into the house where the Dragonborn's new son or daughter is living. This adds another dialogue option with the spouse allowing the Dragonborn to ask how the children are; it also adds generic dialogue to the child, where an activity will be mentioned that they both did together.

Note: Because spouses act as vendors, the Dragonborn can buy and sell items from them. However, if the spouse is a follower and asked to follow the Dragonborn, the spouse will only sell items from their inventory until they part ways. Spouses only act as merchants in the marital home, meaning items cannot be sold to them while they are following (to reduce the carry weight, for instance).

Potential spouses

Females

Wife Race Class Location Requirements
Aela the Huntress Nord Thief Jorrvaskr, Whiterun Complete "Glory of the Dead"
Aeri Nord Lumberjack Anga's Mill, The Pale Chop firewood for her
Anwen Redguard Priest Temple of Dibella, Markarth Complete "The Heart of Dibella"
Avrusa Sarethi Dunmer Farmer Sarethi Farm, The Rift Give her 20 Jazbay Grapes
Borgakh the Steel Heart Orc Orc Warrior Mor Khazgur, Haafingar Pay her dowry or convince her to leave
Brelyna Maryon Dunmer Mystic College of Winterhold, Winterhold Complete "Brelyna's Practice"
Camilla Valerius Imperial Pawnbroker Riverwood Trader, Riverwood Complete "The Golden Claw"
Dravynea the Stoneweaver Dunmer Mage Kynesgrove, Eastmarch Give her Frost Salts
Ghorza gra-Bagol Orc Blacksmith Blacksmith Shed, Markarth Give her The Last Scabbard of Akrash
Gilfre Imperial Lumberjack Mixwater Mill, Eastmarch Chop firewood for her
HilundDR Nord Dremora Class Bujold's Retreat/Thirsk Mead Hall Complete "Retaking Thirsk" and give her 50 Riekling Spears
Iona Nord Warrior Honeyside, Riften Complete "I Done Got Thaned!"
Jenassa Dunmer Ranger The Drunken Huntsman, Whiterun Hire her for 500 Gold
Jordis the Sword-Maiden Nord Warrior Proudspire Manor, Solitude Complete "Thane of Haafingar"
Lydia Nord Warrior Whiterun Complete "Dragon Rising" and buy Breezehome (Cannot marry before 1.5 update)
Mjoll the Lioness Nord Warrior Riften Retrieve Grimsever from the Dwemer ruins of Mzinchaleft
MorwenDR Nord Dremora Class Skaal Village Free the Skaal after delivering her mother's amulet to Runil in Falkreath
Muiri Breton Apothecary The Hag's Cure, Markarth Complete "Mourning Never Comes" (must kill both targets)
Njada Stonearm Nord Warrior Jorrvaskr, Whiterun Complete "Glory of the Dead"
Orla Nord Priest Temple of Dibella, Markarth Complete "The Heart of Dibella"
Rayya Redguard Warrior Falkreath, Lakeview Manor Complete "Thane of Falkreath" and buy Lakeview Manor deed
Ria Imperial Warrior Jorrvaskr, Whiterun Complete "Glory of the Dead"
Senna Breton Priest Temple of Dibella, Markarth Complete "The Heart of Dibella"
Shahvee Argonian Citizen Argonian Assemblage, Windhelm Return her amulet (she may die during "Blood on the Ice" so it is advised to marry her before starting this quest)
Sylgja Nord Miner Shor's Stone, The Rift Give her satchel to her father in Darkwater Crossing and then returned to her
Taarie Altmer Tailor Solitude Complete "Fit for a Jarl" and invest in Radiant Raiment
Temba Wide-Arm Nord Citizen Ivarstead, The Rift Give her 10 bear pelts
Uthgerd the Unbroken Nord Warrior The Bannered Mare, Whiterun Beat her in a brawl
Viola Giordano Imperial Citizen Candlehearth Hall, Windhelm Rat Revyn Sadri out to Viola during "That Was Always There"
Ysolda Nord Citizen Open market, Whiterun Give her a Mammoth Tusk

Males

Husband Race Class Location Requirements
Ainethach Breton Miner Karthwasten, The Reach Convince Silver-Blood Thugs to leave his mine
Angrenor Once-Honored Nord Beggar Candlehearth Hall, Windhelm Give him 1 Gold
Argis the Bulwark Nord Warrior Vlindrel Hall, Markarth Complete "Thane of the Reach"
Athis Dunmer Warrior Jorrvaskr Living Quarters, Whiterun Complete "Glory of the Dead"
Balimund Nord Blacksmith The Scorched Hammer, Riften Give him 10 Fire Salts
Belrand Nord Spellsword The Winking Skeever, Solitude Hire him for 500 Gold
Benor Nord Warrior Morthal Beat him in a brawl
Calder Nord Warrior Hjerim, Windhelm Complete "Thane of Eastmarch"
Cosnach Breton Warrior Silver-Blood Inn, Markarth Beat him in a brawl
Derkeethus Argonian Ranger Darkwater Crossing, Eastmarch Rescue him
Farkas Nord Blacksmith Jorrvaskr, Whiterun Complete "Glory of the Dead"
Filnjar Nord Blacksmith Shor's Stone, The Rift Complete "Mine or Yours"
Gat gro-Shargakh Orc Miner Left Hand Mine/Kolskeggr Mine, The Reach Complete the favor to Pavo Attius to liberate Kolskeggr Mine
Ghorbash the Iron Hand Orc Ranger Burguk's Longhouse, Dushnikh Yal, The Reach Pay his dowry or convince him to leave
GregorHF Nord Warrior The White Hall, Dawnstar Complete "Thane of the Pale"
Marcurio Imperial Destruction Mage Bee and Barb, Riften Hire him for 500 Gold
Halbarn Iron-FurDR Nord Dremora Class Bujold's Retreat/Thirsk Mead Hall Complete "Retaking Thirsk" and "Halbarn's Supplies"
Moth gro-Bagol Orc Blacksmith Understone Keep, Markarth Give him a Daedra Heart
Octieve San Breton Citizen Solitude, frequently found in and around the Winking Skeever Help the gamblers pay off his debts
Omluag Breton Citizen Markarth Smelter, Markarth Talk to Mulush gro-Shugurz in Markarth about the smelter workers
Odfel Nord Miner Shor's Stone None
Onmund Nord Sorcerer The Hall of Attainment, College of Winterhold Recover Onmund's Amulet from Enthir
Pavo Attius Imperial Miner Left Hand Mine/Kolskeggr Mine, The Reach Complete his favor to liberate Kolskeggr Mine
Perth Breton Miner Soljund's Sinkhole, The Reach Clear Soljund's Sinkhole of Draugr
Quintus Navale Imperial Sorcerer The White Phial, Windhelm Complete "Repairing the Phial"
Revyn Sadri Dunmer Warrior Sadri's Used Wares, Windhelm Retrieve Viola's Gold Ring
Roggi Knot-Beard Nord Miner Steamscorch Mine, Kynesgrove, Eastmarch Recover Roggi's Ancestral Shield
Romlyn Dreth Dunmer Thief Black-Briar Meadery, Riften Deliver Black-Briar Mead Keg to Wilhelm in Ivarstead
Scouts-Many-Marshes Argonian Blacksmith Argonian Assemblage, Windhelm Talk to Torbjorn Shatter-Shield about the Argonian dock workers
Sondas Drenim Dunmer Food Vendor Goldenrock Mine, Darkwater Crossing, Eastmarch Deliver his note to Quintus Navale
Sorex Vinius Imperial Food Vendor Winking Skeever, Solitude Deliver Stros M'Kai Rum kegs to Falk Firebeard at Blue Palace
Stenvar Nord Warrior Candlehearth Hall, Windhelm Hire him for 500 Gold
Torvar Nord Warrior Jorrvaskr, Whiterun Complete "Glory of the Dead"
Vilkas Nord Warrior Jorrvaskr, Whiterun Complete "Glory of the Dead"
Vorstag Nord Warrior Silver-Blood Inn, Markarth Hire him for 500 Gold
Wilhelm Nord Food Vendor Vilemyr Inn, Ivarstead, The Rift Complete "Lifting the Shroud"

Forcing marriage  PC  

The marriage dialog option can be forced to appear on characters by opening the console, targeting the desired character, and typing the command "addfac 19809 1." This could possibly cause issues with characters who were not originally intended to have this option.

A friendship must have been started with the character in the form of a quest, as their disposition (which is a hidden stat) needs to be of a certain level in order for them to recognize the Amulet of Mara. Alternatively the command "setrelationshiprank player 4" can be used after adding the person to the marriage faction. It is not possible to marry several of the people in the game, such as Ulfric Stormcloak.

  • Forced marriages often work better on characters that share a voice actor with a marriageable character, because marriage dialogue is universal for a lot of characters.
  • If the Dragonborn marries a Jarl with the setrelationshiprank command, they can immediately buy a house from said Jarl as well. Note that these commands may cause buggy behavior when trying to become Thane of a Hold. However, a benefit of marrying an important character, such as a trainer at the College of Winterhold, is that one can choose to live with their spouse in the formal residence, since taking an item while one lives there does not count as stealing.

Divorce  PC  

Trying to breakup with partners is impossible without the console commands. Searching for help "breakup" 4 will bring up dialogue and quests that show reference to what most likely was the original intention of breaking up with a spouse.

Option one

The relationshipbreakup quest can be used.  PC   Use the console to enter these commands:

  • completequest 0007431B
  • resetquest 0007431B
  • resetquest 00021382

(This is just formality to reset the "marriage" quest.) The above will prevent the Dragonborn from having to kill their spouse, although they will comment on how much even the thought of them makes their blood boil. Untested, but possibly setrelationshiprank player 4 can fix this.

Option two

  • The spouse must be killed
  • The console command Setstage RelationshipMarriage 10 must then be used
  • The console commands resurrect should next be used on the ex-spouse (and eventually the command setrelationshiprank player 4 on him/her to keep the relationship status obtained with the character related quests)
  • The old Amulet of Mara doesn't need to be dropped or sold.

Option three

  • The Amulet of Mara necklace must be retained, or another one must be found.
  • Any wanted items should be taken from the current spouse before starting this process.
  • The following commands must be used, after targeting the spouse:
    • removefac 51596
    • player.removefac C6472
    • resetquest 74793
    • resetquest 21382
    • setstage 74793 10
  • The old spouse will immediately exit the house and return to their regular location.
  • 24 hours must be waited.

Trivia

  •  PC   To change the clothes of the partner, the console command equipitem can be used on them (e.g. equipitem 000d191f 1 for the Tavern Clothes). The console command removeitem <base_id> 1 can be used to remove items like a pickaxe (000E3C16), or clothes specifically. Be mindful that all Characters (including followers) come with a set of standard clothing that are tagged as their 'outfit'. Even when removing these clothes through the console, the character will try to put on the standard outfit when not following the Dragonborn, which can result in them being randomly nude while not following the Dragonborn (e.g.: waiting at their house, walking in the city).
  • The Dragonborn can also change their spouse's clothes on consoles if they are a follower by equipping them with items of better armor value and buying their normally-worn items in their shops; however, when not following they might be wandering in their underwear.
  • The Dragonborn can kill their spouse by sacrificing them to Boethiah during the quest "Boethiah's Calling."
  • If a spouse is killed, remarriage is not possible without the use of console commands.
  • There is a number of potential marriage options cut from the game that still have related (but disabled) data included in the game files. Among those characters who were cut are Vivienne Onis, Ingun Black-Briar, and Elisif the Fair.
  • The Dunmer of Raven Rock cannot be married via console commands. The Nords of Skaal Village can be married this way, but are bugged (and thus may not leave Solstheim).
  • Serana has the option of proposal but will kindly refuse.
  • If a follower is married and is currently accompanying the player, they can still provide homemade meals whilst not being near any cooking facilities. Also, they can still give the "profits" of their shops, even though they are following the player and will not have had the opportunity to "sell" anything.
  • All marriageable male Dunmer, with the exception of Revyn Sadri, share the same courtship dialogue about the Amulet of Mara and after-marriage conversations.
  • Muiri is the only female spouse who is a dedicated apothecary, if Bothela is killed prior to marriage. Quintus Navale is the only male spouse who is a dedicated apothecary.
  • If the Dawnguard add-on is installed, when talking with Florentius Baenius, the Dragonborn can occasionally learn that their spouse has been kidnapped by vampires at the beginning of the quest "Rescue."
  • The majority of spouse options are Nords and Imperials, with some Elves, Bretons, Orcs and Argonians mixed in. There are no Khajiit spouses, however; since the majority of Khajiit in Skyrim are traders or travelers from Elsweyr, they probably have families back home. Additionally, Khajiit characters talk about home a lot, stating how much they miss it and how cold Skyrim is; thus, they probably do not want to marry and settle down in Skyrim.

Bugs

This section contains bugs related to Marriage (Skyrim). Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:

  1. Please reload an old save to confirm if the bug is still happening.
  2. If the bug is still occurring, please post the bug report with the appropriate system template  360  /  XB1  ,  PS3  /  PS4  ,  PC  /  MAC  ,  NX  /  PS5  ,  XS  , depending on which platform(s) the bug has been encountered on.
  3. Be descriptive when listing the bug and fixes, but avoid having conversations in the description and/or using first-person anecdotes: such discussions belong on the appropriate forum board.
  • Sometimes, the wedding ceremony will not actually start; the Dragonborn's spouse, guests, and Maramal are at the temple at the proper time, but the ceremony proper will not happen. Guests offer their generic congratulations, and the spouse expresses excitement, but nothing else happens and the quest will fail after a few in-game hours.
  • Sometimes, Maramal will not show up at the temple until he is talked to at the Bee and Barb.
  • If a follower (such as Lydia) dies before the wedding, their dead body will be present at the wedding.
  • A scripted character may interrupt the wedding if the Dragonborn chooses to wait overnight in the Temple of Mara. For example: the priestess of Azura might make the Dragonborn miss their wedding if they recently completed the "The Black Star."
  • When married to Camilla Valerius, Sven will still ask the Dragonborn to break up the relationship between Camilla and Feandal (in the quest "A Lovely Letter"). The Dragonborn can still complete the quest despite being married to her.
  • If Aela the Huntress is taken to Riften to get married while on the quest to recover any Hircine totem, she will continue to normally follow the Dragonborn, but will disappear upon fast traveling.
  • If a random Companions quest is accepted and the quest requires killing a monster that has invaded a home, that home may be the Dragonborn's. Upon entering the home no one will be there but the monster and the spouse will temporarily disappear from the game.
  • With the Dragonborn DLC, the Dragonborn's spouse may never appear at the designated house, but wander around their default location instead.
    • This can be fixed by making the spouse a follower before leaving the hold and leaving them in the Dragonborn's home, then making them a follower again and ask them about living somewhere else. Upon leaving them there, they will live there as normal.
    •  PC (Fix)   Another solution is to divorce the spouse and remarry.
  •  PC   If Maramal is summoned through console commands and the original scripted Maramal was accidentally deleted, it may result in Maramal not present during wedding and the Dragonborn "automatically refuse" to marry the spouse.
  •  PS3   360   Sleeping in the same house with the partner may not result in the "Lover's Comfort" buff, only the standard "Well Rested" bonus.
  •  360   Any wife may stop cooking meals for her Dragonborn spouse after about 5–7 times.
  •  360   Some people that can be married, such as Aela the Huntress, have no voice recorded for when they are asked to show their merchandise. The subtitle will appear on screen and their lips still move but nothing will be heard.
  •  PC   360   During the marriage ceremony, after the spouse gives their vows, they will sometimes randomly leave the temple while Maramal is still talking, and will disappear, not to be found anywhere.
    • This can be avoided by quickly leaving the ceremony and initiating conversation with the spouse about where to live.
    • In rare cases, the wedding will not occur on the actual day, but the day after. The spouse will still say what they normally say (e.g. "It's our wedding day! I feel like the whole of Skyrim is focused on the two of us.").
  •  PC   The marriage quest may fail after the wedding ceremony. If this happens, the Dragonborn should talk to their new spouse and ask them for another chance at marriage. This should automatically make the Dragonborn's new spouse work properly.
  •  NX   Potential spouses may call the Dragonborn "love" or "dear," despite not being married to them, or even being married to someone else. This most often happens after any Dawnguard radiant quest involving the potential spouse in question is completed.

Achievements

Married (Achievement)
Married
Get married
Points 10 Gamer points
Trophy
Bronze trophy


References

Advertisement