Skyrim romance options: who you can marry, how to woo them, and all the benefits

You’ve gotten the best gear, slayed a bunch of dragons, and Fus-Ro-Dah’d your heart out across Skyrim, but now you’re ready to find true love and settle down (and, let’s be honest, bang them for sweet temporary buffs).

With Skyrim out this week on PlayStation VR and Nintendo Switch, we’re revisiting Bethesda’s epic and remembering just how much stuff there is to do in it. It’s not a co-op game, of course, but wouldn’t you like someone by your side while you conquer these lands?

As part of our huge Skyrim guide, we wanted to help you find the man or woman of your dreams.

Before you can get married, of course, you need to acquire an Amulet of Mara, which is, we suppose, the Skyrim equivalent of not wearing a ring. You can get this as a random drop in the world, but it’s easier to go to the Temple of Mara in Riften and talk to Maramal there (if he’s not there, check the inn). Ask him to tell you about Mara, and eventually he’ll offer to sell you the amulet for 200 gold.

If you equip the amulet and talk to someone who is interested in you, you can start a conversation that might lead towards marriage. There are many benefits to marriage besides companionship and the promise that your Dragonborn is enjoying a healthy sex life:

• Some partners are merchants, and they can bring you in on their business success. Your partner may also choose to open a store after marriage.
• If your partner owns a home, it is now your home as well.
• Your partner will cook for one once a day, which will boost your health, stamina, and magicka regeneration.
• Your partner may surprise you with gifts.
• Sleeping near your partner offers a ‘Lover’s Comfort’ boost, which gives you a 15% speed boost for eight hours.

Sounds good, right? But before you can get any of that you need to figure out who you want to marry.

Here are all the people you can marry in Skyrim, where they live, what they do, and what objectives you must complete to be able to fling woo their way. Thankfully, Skyrim recognises the importance of marriage equality, so you can marry anyone on this list below regardless of your character’s gender.

Women you can marry

Aela the Huntress
Nord companion in Jorrvaskr, Whiterun

Complete the Companions’ story arc ‘Glory of the Dead’ to open up marriage as an option.

Aeri
Nord lumberjack in Anga’s Mill, The Pale

Aeri will be seduced if you chop firewood for her.

Anwen
Redguard priestess in the Temple of Dilbella, Markarth

Complete the quest ‘The Heart of Dibella’.

Avrusa Sarethi
Dunmer farmer in Sarethi Farm, The Rift

Give her 20 Jazbay Grapes.

Borgakh the Steel Heart
Orc warrior in Mor Khazgur, Haafingar

By using persuasion, or by paying off her dowry, you can convince Borgakh to become a companion and seduce her from there.

Brelyna Maryon
Dunmer student at the College of Winterhold

Complete the ‘Brelyna’s Practice’ quest.

Camilla Valerius
Imperial merchant in Riverwood Trader

Complete the ‘The Golden Claw’ quest.

Dravynea the Stoneweaver
Dunmer mage in Kynesgrove, Eastmarch

Provide her with one Frost Salt.

Ghorza gra-Bagol
Orc blacksmith in Blacksmith Shed, Markarth

Give her The Last Scabbard of Akrash.

Gilfre
Imperial miller in Mixwater Mill, Eastmarch

Work for her, chopping firewood, until she’s properly seduced.

Hilund
Nord warrior in Bujold’s Retreat/the Thirsk Mead Hall

Complete the ‘Retaking Thirsk’ quest and bring her 50 Riekling Spears.

Iona
Nord housecarl in Honeyside, Riften

Become Thane of the Rift. Iona really makes you work for it.

Jenassa
Dunmer hireling in The Drunken Huntsman, Whiterun

Hire Jenassa and she’s open to love.

Jordis the Sword-Maiden
Nord housecarl in Proudspire Manor, Solitude

Become Thane of Solitude. Another big ask!

Lydia
Nord housecarl in Whiterun

Become Thane in Whitehall – which involves killing Mirmulnir during the ‘Dragon Rising’ quest. You also need to purchase Breezehome before Lydia will marry you.

Mjoll the Lioness
Nord adventure in Riften

Head to the Dwemer ruins of Mzinchaleft and retrieve her Grimsever sword from there.

Morwen
Nord Skaal in Skall Village

Deliver Morwen’s mother’s amulet to Runil in Falkreath, and then free the Skaal, and Morwen will love you.

Muiri
Breton alchemist in The Hag’s Cure, Markarth

Complete the ‘Mourning Never Comes’ quest, and make sure that you kill both targets.

Njada Stonearm
Nord companion in Jorrvaskr, Whiterun

Complete the companion story arc ‘Glory of the Dead’.

Orla
Nord priest in Temple of Dibella, Markarth

Complete the quest ‘The Heart of Dibella’.

Rayya
Redguard housecarl in Falkreath, Lakeview Manor

Become the Thane of Falkreath and purchase the Manor Deed for Lakeview.

Ria
Imperial companion in Jorrvaskr, Whiterun

Complete the companion story arc ‘Glory of the Dead’.

Senna
Breton priest in the Temple of Dibella, Markarth

Complete the quest ‘The Heart of Dibella’.

Shahvee Argonian
Dockworker and Argonian Assemblage, Windhelm

Retrieve the Amulet of Zenithar and give it to her. Make sure you do this before the ‘Blood on the Ice’ quest, though, because she can be killed during this quest.

Sylgja
Nord miner from Shor’s Stone, The Rift

Find Sylgia’s satchel and return it to her father in Darkwater Crossing. After this, you’ll be able to return it to her, then seduce her.

Taarie
Altmer merchant in Solitude

Complete the queat ‘Fit for a Jarl’. You’ll also need to have the Investor perk in your speech tree.

Temba Wide-Arm
Nord miller in Ivarstead, The Rift

Give her ten bear pelts.

Uthgerd the Unbroken
Nord hireling in The Bannered Mare, Whiterun

Beat her in a brawl. She’s pretty strong.

Viola Giordano
Imperial busybody in Candlehearth Hall, Windhelm

Start on Revyn Sadri’s favour, but instead of completing it, dob him in to Viola.

Ysolda
Nord merchant in the open market, Whiterun

Give her a mammoth tusk.

Men you can marry

Ainethach
Breton mine owner, Karthwasten, The Reach

Convince the Silver-Blood thugs to get out of his mine. You’ll need a silver tongue.

Angrenor Once-Honored
Nord beggar in Candlehearth Hall, Windhelm

Give him a gold piece.

Argis the Bulwark
Nord housecarl in Vlindrel Hall, Markarth

Become Thane of Markarth. Again, he doesn’t come easy.

Athis
Dunmer companion in Jorrvaskr Living Quarters, Whiterun

Complete the companion story arc ‘Glory of the Dead’.

Balimund
Nord blacksmith in The Scorched Hammer, Riften

Give him 10 Fire Salts.

Belrand
Nord hireling in The Winking Skeever, Solitude

Hire him and he’s yours.

Benor
Nord warrior in Morthal

Win a brawl against him. He’s pretty hardy.

Calder
Nord housecarl in Hjerim, Windhelm

Become the Thane of Eastmarch.

Cosnach Breton
Drunk/porter in the Silver-Blood Inn, Markarth

Beat him at a brawl. People love being beaten up in Skyrim.

Derkeethus
Argonian fisherman in Darkwater Crossing, Eastmarch

Rescue him from the Falmer.

Farkas
Nord companion in Jorrvaskr, Whiterun

Complete the companion story arc ‘Glory of the Dead’.

Filnjar
Nord blacksmith in Shor’s Stone, The Rift

Complete the quest ‘Mine or Yours’.

Gat gro-Shargakh
Orc miner in the Left Hand Mine/Kolskeggr Mine, The Reach

Complete a favour to Pavo Attius, which will involve liberating the Kolskeggr Mine.

Ghorbash the Iron Hand
Orc warrior in Burguk’s Longhouse, Dushnikh Yal, The Reach

Either pay Ghorbash’s dowry or convince him to leave with persuasion.

Marcurio
Imperial Hireling in Bee and Barb, Riften

Hire Marcurio and you’re in with a shot.

Halbarn Iron-Fur
Nord blacksmith in Bujold’s Retreat/Thirsk Mead Hall

Complete the quests ‘Retaking Thirsk’ and ‘Halbarn’s Supplies’.

Moth gro-Bagol
Orc blacksmith in Understone Keep, Markarth

Give him a Daedra Heart and he’ll love you.

Octieve San
Breton citizen in Solitude

Help to pay off all his debts.

Omluag
Breton miner in Markarth Smelter

Talk to Mulush gro-Shugurz about the smelter workers and convince him to ease up on them.

Onmund
Nord student at the Hall of Attainment, College of Winterhold

Return his Amulet from Enthir to him.

Pavo Attius
Imperial miner from the Left Hand Mine/Kolskeggr Mine, The Reach

Complete his favour, liberating the mine in the process.

Perth
Breton miner in Soljund’s Sinkhole, The Reach

Clear the sinkhole of Draugr. Perth’s pretty into that.

Quintus Navale
Imperial alchemist in The White Phial, Windhelm

Complete the quest ‘Repairing the Phial’.

Revyn Sadri
Dunmer merchant in Sadri’s Used Wares, Windhelm

Bring back the stolen ring to Viola Giordano without her discovering that he took it.

Roggi Knot-Beard
Nord miner in Steamscorch Mine, Kynesgrove, Eastmarch

Recover Roggi’s family shield and he’s yours.

Romlyn Dreth
Dunmer meadery worker in Black-Briar Meadery, Riften

Take the Black-Briar Mead Key to Wilhelm, all the way over in Ivarstead.

Scouts-Many-Marshes
Argonian dockworker in Argonian Assemblage, Windhelm

Talk to Torbjorn Shatter-Shield about easing off on the Argonian dockworkers.

Sondas Drenim
Dunmer miner in Goldenrock Mine, Darkwater Crossing, Eastmarch

Deliver Sondas’ note to Quintus Navale.

Sorex Vinius
Imperial assistant innkeeper in Winking Skeever, Solitude

Deliver kegs of Stros M’Kai Rum to Falk Firebeard at the Blue Palace on Sorex’s behalf.

Stenvar
Nord hireling in Candlehearth Hall, Windhelm

Hire this guy and he’ll be pretty into you.

Torvar
Nord companion in Jorrvaskr, Whiterun

Complete the companion story arc ‘Glory of the Dead’.

Valdimar
Nord in Winstad Manor, Hjaalmarch

Become Thane of Hjaalmarch.

Vilkas
Nord companion in Jorrvaskr, Whiterun

Complete the companion story arc ‘Glory of the Dead’.

Vorstag
Nord hireling in Silver-Blood Inn, Markarth

Hire him! That’s all it takes.

Wilhelm
Nord innkeeper, Vilemyr Inn, Ivarstead, The Rift

Complete the investigation of the Shroud Hearth Barrow.

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There you have it – best of luck with your romantic entanglements.

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