Skyrim marriage explained - How to get married with the Amulet of Mara
Where to find the Amulet, start the ceremony, and the benefits of tying the knot.
In a game where you can role-play in a countless number of ways, it's only fitting that you can get hitched to one of your favourite characters along the way.
Knowing how to get married in Skyrim is also useful for gameplay; it unlocks of the game's many achievements, and can offer a number of temporary (but reoccurring) benefits that can really come in handy.
If you are playing the 2021 Anniversary Edition, we have explainers on features such as fishing.
On this page:
Where to get the Amulet of Mara
The first step to marriage is getting the Amulet of Mara, and the easiest way is from Riften, where all marriages take place.
Once you've at Riften (if you've yet to visit, then grab a carriage from outside any major city to travel for a small cost) and locate someone named Marmal.
Marmal should be in one of two places; either in the Temple of Mara (from where you enter the city from its main entrance, it's located straight ahead, then on the left) or in The Bee and Barb traverse (in the centre of town, by the market stalls).
Speak to him about Mara, and after a bunch of dialogue options, he'll tell you about marriage and offer you the Amulet of Mara for 200 gold.
How to find a marriage partner and get married in Skyrim
To find a marriage partner, you need to equip the Amuletof Mara, signalling that you are available. Now, talk to NPCs out in the world, and you'll know they are interested when they notice the Amulet on you.
While you can't get married to any NPC, race and gender doesn't matter, and there are many optional suitors out in the world - including many characters you'll come across during quest lines - and it might be more enjoyable to keep it equipped and play the game as normal, waiting until you find a partner naturally.
If you're in a rush, a variety of the game's major characters are available to marry, depending on your status with them - completing their associated quests (if applicable) will help. Here's some potential partners you may have already come across already:
- Aela the Huntress (female, in Jorrvaskr in Whiterun, complete all quests for The Companions)
- Camilla Valerius (female, in Riverwood's Riverwood Trader, complete The Golden Claw side quest)
- Farkas (male, in Jorrvaskr in Whiterun, complete all quests for The Companions)
- Lydia (female, in Dragonsreach in Whiterun, purchase Skyrim house Breezehome)
- Marcurio (male, in Riften's Bee and the Barb, hire him as a Follower first)
- Vilkas (male, in Jorrvaskr in Whiterun, complete all quests for The Companions)
When you have a suitor that is interested, you can agree to get married. Now travel to the Temple of Mara in Riften and talk to Marmal to arrange the marriage.
He'll ask you to come back the next day; we recommend staying put and waiting until the following morning (6am), where guests and your suitor will arrive into the temple, initiating a cutscene.
Choose the 'I do' dialogue option (unless, of course, you change your mind) and the marriage will be complete. Congratulations! Talk to them and decide where you shall live - whether in one of your houses, or theres - from where you can start receiving benefits.
Want more help with Skyrim? Find out how to join every guild and faction, how to earn Gold fast, learning about XP and levelling to 100, max Crafting skills, max Warrior skills, max Thief skills and max Mage skills, how to get married, where to buy a house, how to start Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn DLC expansions. If you're on PC, we have a list of console commands and cheats, and you can learn about the remastered version and how to install mods with our Skyrim guide. Finally, with Switch owners, we have Skyrim amiibo support explained to help unlock special Zelda-themed items.
Benefits and other things to know about getting married in Skyrim
- Getting married adds the 'The Bond of Matrimony' to your inventory, which reduces the cost of Restoration spells by 10%. While it can be disenchanted to receive the 'Blessing of Mara' enchantment, it cannot be applied to any other item.
- If you have a house in Skyrim, then your partner will give you 100 gold once per day (which accumulates over time) and a 'Home Cooked Meal' once per day, regenerating health, stamina and magicka.
- Sleeping in the same area as your partner (they don't have to be in bed, or even your own home if they are a Follower) gives you the 'Lover's Comfort' resting bonus, giving you a experience increase of 15% by eight hours - perfect if you want to level up fast in Skyrim.
- Your partner is a protected character, meaning they cannot be killed by enemies, just temporarily stunned - only you can kill them. Again, useful if they're also a Follower.
- The only way to 'leave' your partner in Skyrim is my killing them, so make sure you choose wisely before tying the knot!