You’ve spent hours shouting at dragons and picking mountain flowers, but eventually, the Breezehome starts feeling a little empty. It's time to find a spouse. Most players just grab the first person who looks at them twice after wearing the Amulet of Mara, but finding skyrim all marriage partners is actually a massive undertaking if you want to see everything the game offers. There are over 60 candidates. Sixty! That is a lot of potential spouses hanging out in various dank caves and gold mines waiting for a Dragonborn to notice them.
Marriage in Skyrim isn't just about fluff or roleplay; it’s a mechanical gold mine. Your spouse sets up a shop, hands you 100 gold every single day, and cooks you "Homecooked Meals" that boost your stamina and health regeneration. It's basically a passive income stream that happens to live in your basement. But not every partner is built the same. Some are powerful followers who will tank a Giant’s club for you, while others will literally just sit in your house and complain about the decor.
The Reality of Picking From Skyrim All Marriage Partners
Let’s be real. If you’re looking for a spouse, you’re probably looking at the "Big Three": Aela the Huntress, Mjoll the Lioness, or Farkas. These are the heavy hitters. Aela is the fan-favorite for a reason. She’s a werewolf, a master archer, and she doesn't care if you break the law. If you’re playing a "morally gray" character—meaning you steal everything that isn't nailed down—Aela won't judge.
But getting her to say "I do" is a chore. You have to finish the entire Companions questline. You have to become the Harbinger. You have to prove you’re the baddest warrior in Whiterun. It takes time.
Then there’s Mjoll. She is a tank. Literally. She can’t be killed because she’s marked as an essential NPC, which is a massive perk if you’re the type of player who accidentally hits their followers with Fireballs in the heat of battle. The downside? Aerin. If you marry Mjoll, her "friend" Aerin follows her everywhere. He’ll be in your house. He’ll be watching you eat dinner. It’s weird. Most players end up... "disposing" of Aerin in a dark alleyway just to get some privacy.
Why Diverse Options Matter
Beyond the warriors, the list of skyrim all marriage partners includes some truly bizarre choices. Take Cosnach in Markarth. He’s a drunk who hangs out at the Silver-Blood Inn. You have to beat him in a fistfight to win his respect. Is he a good husband? Not really. He doesn't have much to offer in terms of stats. But if you're roleplaying a character who just wants a drinking buddy at home, he fits the bill perfectly.
Then you have the mages. Brelyna Maryon at the College of Winterhold is a solid pick. She’s a Dunmer with a high ceiling for magical growth. Marrying her requires finishing her personal "practice" quest where she accidentally turns you green and then into various animals. It's a bonding experience, I guess.
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The Logistics: How Not to Mess Up Your Wedding
First, you need the Amulet of Mara. Don’t go hunting for it in random chests. Just go to Riften. Talk to Maramal in the Bee and Barb or at the Temple of Mara. Pay 200 gold. Put it on.
If you’re wearing the amulet and an eligible NPC likes you, they’ll ask, "Is that an Amulet of Mara? I'm surprised someone like you isn't spoken for." That’s your cue.
But here’s the catch: the wedding is a timed event. Once you set the date with Maramal, you have to show up. If you get distracted by a nearby bandit camp or a shiny butterfly and miss the ceremony, your potential spouse will be furious. You can fix it with a heartfelt apology, but it’s a headache you don't need.
The Underdogs: Partners You Probably Ignored
We need to talk about the Orc Strongholds. Most players never even bother getting "Blood-Kin" status with the Orcs, but if you do, you unlock some of the toughest marriage candidates in the game. Moth gro-Bagol is a master smith in Markarth. Ghorbash the Iron Hand is a beastly warrior in Dushnikh Yal.
These characters aren't "pretty." They don't have the voice lines of the main quest NPCs. But they are incredibly loyal and provide a unique flavor to a playthrough that focuses on the gritty, tougher side of Skyrim.
Also, don't sleep on the shopkeepers. Ysolda in Whiterun is a classic choice. She’s easy to marry—just give her a Mammoth Tusk. Since she already dreams of being a merchant, it feels natural when she starts running a shop out of your house. It makes sense. It’s grounded.
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Gender and Race: Breaking Down the Restrictions
Skyrim was actually ahead of its time in 2011. There are no gender restrictions on marriage. You can be a male Nord married to a male Argonian. You can be a female High Elf married to a female Orc. The game doesn't care.
However, racial variety is surprisingly lopsided. There are plenty of Nords. There are plenty of Orcs and Dark Elves. But if you want to marry a Khajiit? You're out of luck in the base game. There are literally zero Khajiit marriage candidates without using mods. It’s one of those weird oversights that has annoyed the community for over a decade. Wood Elves are also strangely underrepresented, with only a few options like Revyn Sadri (who is actually a Dark Elf who lives in Windhelm, wait, no, I'm thinking of Faendal—who isn't even marriageable without console commands). Actually, the only marriageable Wood Elf in the vanilla game is Camilla Valerius, and even then, you’re stuck in a love triangle with a bard and a hunter.
The Problem With Camilla Valerius
Speaking of Camilla, she is often the first person players consider because you meet her five minutes into the game in Riverwood. You bring back the Golden Claw, she’s impressed, the Amulet of Mara glows.
But be warned: the "Love Triangle" doesn't end just because you got married. Sven or Faendal will still show up at your house to visit her. It is incredibly annoying to come home from a grueling dungeon crawl to find Faendal walking out of your bedroom. It’s a glitch—or a very bold AI design choice—but it makes the Riverwood marriage one of the most frustrating in the game.
The Best Spouses for Survival Mode
With the Anniversary Edition and Survival Mode becoming the standard way to play for many, the "Homecooked Meal" is no longer just a nice buff—it's a lifesaver. You need to eat. You need to stay warm.
Marrying someone who lives in a warm climate or provides easy access to resources is key. Balimund the smith in Riften is excellent. He’s right next to a forge. You can sell your loot, get a hot meal, and sleep in a warm bed all within a five-foot radius.
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If you're looking for skyrim all marriage partners who can actually help you survive the cold, look for followers who can carry your extra gear. Derkeethus is the only marriageable Argonian male, and you find him trapped in a cave (Darkwater Pass). He's a decent archer, but his real value is that he’s a "non-standard" follower who can help you haul dragon bones through the snow.
Why You Should Consider the "Plain" NPCs
Sometimes, the best spouse is just someone who stays home. If you marry a follower, they might get killed. If they die, you’re a widower/widow forever. There is no second marriage in Skyrim (without mods).
If you marry someone like Sylgja, a miner in Shor’s Stone, she stays safe. She sits in your house in Solitude or Falkreath. She makes your money. She stays alive. There’s a certain peace in knowing your spouse isn't going to get disintegrated by a Dragon Priest while you’re trying to find a word wall.
High-Value Targets: The "Power Couple" Build
If you want to be a power couple, you marry someone from the Dawnguard DLC or a high-level follower.
- Valerica? No.
- Serana? Sadly, no. (The community is still mad about this).
- Rayya? Yes. If you become Thane of Falkreath, you get Rayya as a Housecarl. She can dual-wield scimitars. She is a walking blender of death. Marrying your Housecarl is the ultimate power move because they are already sworn to protect you. It’s like marrying your bodyguard.
Final Thoughts on Choosing Your Spouse
Don't rush it. Once you put that ring on, it’s permanent.
Think about your long-term goals. Do you need a merchant? A tank? A mage? Or just someone who won't mind that you keep a collection of human skulls in the basement?
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your standing: Make sure you've completed the prerequisite quest for your chosen partner. Most require a "Favor" quest before the marriage dialogue unlocks.
- Get the Amulet: Travel to Riften and speak with Maramal. Don't bother looking for the amulet elsewhere; the 200 gold is the easiest investment you'll ever make.
- Clear the house: If you’re marrying someone like Mjoll, be prepared for the "Aerin situation." If you want a peaceful home, choose someone without a scripted "follower" friend.
- Test the AI: Take them out as a follower first. If their combat style annoys you or they constantly get stuck in doorways, you definitely don't want to live with them for 100 hours of gameplay.
- Plan the Ceremony: Once you propose, get to the Temple of Mara in Riften immediately. Wait inside the temple rather than traveling across the map to ensure you don't miss the 24-hour window.