Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Guide Quests Other Factions Quests: Side Quests
Side Quests: The Bonds of Matrimony
The Bonds of Matrimony
A Life Lived Alone Is No Life at All
Sometimes it is lonely on the mist-filled pathways of Skyrim. You may yearn for companionship. Or something more? If you feel your life is incomplete and must be shared with someone, make your way to Riften and check the Bee and Barb tavern or the Temple of Mara for a talk with Maramal the priest. He detests the drinking of mead and hopes the drunkards of Riften will eventually accept the teachings of the handmaiden of Kyne. Ask for more information about the Temple of Mara, and he tells you she is the goddess of love, tending to the sick, poor, and lost. The priests of Mara also perform wedding ceremonies for all the loving couples in Skyrim. Now ask how marriage works:
Life is hard and short, so there is little time for courtship. A person interested in looking for a spouse simply wears an Amulet of Mara around their neck, indicating their availability. After another shows interest and they agree to be together, they come to the temple and marry. You can purchase one of these Amulets for the low price of 200 gold pieces.
- Amulet of Mara
After you purchase an Amulet of Mara, check your Items > Apparel menu, and wear the necklace, or you’ll never entice a spouse! At this point, you must find someone who wishes to marry you. To do this, you must strike up a friendship with any one of the following potential suitors. “Striking a friendship” means completing a favor for them, or otherwise getting into their good graces.
Potential Spouse
| Potential Spouse | Gender | Race | Occupation | Hold | Location | Conditions for Marriage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aela the Huntress | Female | Nord | Companion | Whiterun | Whiterun (Jorrvaskr) | Complete the Companions Quests |
| Aeri | Female | Nord | Lumberjack | The Pale | Anga’s Mill | Work for her by chopping firewood |
| Ainethach | Male | Breton | Mine Owner | The Reach | Karthwasten | Complete their favor |
| Angrenor Once-Honored | Male | Nord | Beggar | Eastmarch | Windhelm (Candlehearth Hall) | Take pity and give the beggar a gold piece |
| Anwen | Female | Redguard | Priestess | The Reach | Markarth (Temple of Dibella) | Complete Temple Quests: The Heart of Dibella |
| Argis the Bulwark | Male | Nord | Housecarl | The Reach | Markarth (Vlindrel Hall) | Become Thane of the Reach |
| Athis | Male | Dark Elf | Companion | Whiterun | Whiterun (Jorrvaskr) | Complete the Companions Quests |
| Avrusa Sarethi | Female | Dark Elf | Farmer | The Rift | Sarethi Farm | Complete their favor |
| Balimund | Male | Nord | Blacksmith | The Rift | Riften | Complete their favor |
| Belrand | Male | Nord | Hireling | Haafingar | Solitude (Winking Skeever) | Hire them at least once |
| Benor | Male | Nord | Warrior | Hjaalmarch | Morthal | Challenge him to a brawl and win |
| Borghak the Steel Heart | Female | Orc | Warrior | The Reach | Mor Khazgur | Convince her to become a Follower |
| Brelyna Maryon | Female | Dark Elf | Student | Winterhold | Winterhold (College of Winterhold) | Complete both her favors |
| Calder | Male | Nord | Housecarl | Eastmarch | Windhelm (Hjerim) | Become Thane of Eastmarch |
| Camilla Valerius | Female | Imperial | Merchant | Whiterun | Riverwood (Riverwood Trader) | Complete Side Quests: The Golden Claw |
| Cosnach | Male | Breton | Drunk/Porter | The Reach | Markarth (Silver-Blood Inn) | Challenge him to a brawl and win |
| Derkeethus | Male | Argonian | Fisherman | Eastmarch | Darkwater Crossing | Find and rescue him |
| Dravynea the Stoneweaver | Female | Dark Elf | Mage | Eastmarch | Kynesgrove | Complete their favor |
| Erik the Slayer | Male | Nord | Hireling | The Reach | Rorikstead | Complete his favor to make him a hireling |
| Farkas | Male | Nord | Companion | Whiterun | Whiterun (Jorrvaskr) | Complete the Companions Quests |
| Filnjar | Male | Nord | Blacksmith | The Rift | Shor’s Stone | Complete Miscellaeous OBJECTIVE: Mine or Yours |
| Gat gro-Shargakh | Male | Orc | Miner | The Reach | Left Hand Mine /Kolskeggr Mine | Complete Pavo Attius’s favor to liberate Kolskeggr Mine |
| Ghorbash the Iron Hand | Male | Orc | Warrior | The Reach | Dushnikh Yal | Convince her to become a Follower |
| Ghorza gra-Bagol | Female | Orc | Blacksmith | The Reach | Markarth (Blacksmith Shed) | Complete their favor |
| Gilfre | Female | Imperial | Miller | Eastmarch | Mixwater Mill | Work for her by chopping firewood |
| Gregor | Male | Nord | Housecarl | The Pale | White Hall (Dawnstar) | Complete Thane’s Tasks: Thane of The Pale* |
| Grelka | Female | Nord | Merchant | The Rift | Riften (Open Market) | Complete their favor |
| Halbarn Iron-Fur | Male | Nord | Blacksmith | Solstheim | Thirsk Mead Hall | Complete Solstheim Regional Activity: Ore Inspired* |
| Hilund | Female | Nord | Warrior | Solstheim | Thirsk Mead Hall | Complete Solstheim Regional Activity: Primitive Pointy Sticks* |
| Iona | Female | Nord | Housecarl | The Rift | Riften (Honeyside) | Become Thane of the Rift |
| Jenassa | Female | Dark Elf | Hireling | Whiterun | Whiterun (Drunken Huntsman) | Hire them at least once |
| Jordis the Sword-Maiden | Female | Nord | Housecarl | Haafingar | Solitude (Proudspire Manor) | Become Thane of Haafingar |
| Lydia | Female | Nord | Housecarl | Whiterun | Whiterun (Dragonsreach or Breezehome) | Become Thane of Whiterun |
| Marcurio | Male | Imperial | Hireling | The Rift | Riften (Bee and Barb) | Hire them at least once |
| Mjoll the Lioness | Female | Nord | Adventurer | The Rift | Riften | Complete their favor |
| Morwen | Female | Nord | Blacksmith | Solstheim | Skaal Village | Complete Solstheim Regional Activity: Return to Falkreath* |
| Moth gro-Bagol | Male | Orc | Blacksmith | The Reach | Markarth (Understone Keep) | Complete their favor |
| Muiri | Female | Breton | Alchemist | The Reach | Markarth (Hag’s Cure) | Complete Dark Brotherhood Quests: Mourning Never Comes |
| Njada Stonearm | Female | Nord | Companion | Whiterun | Whiterun (Jorrvaskr) | Complete the Companions Quests |
| Octieve San | Male | Breton | Citizen | Haafingar | Solitude | Complete their favor |
| Omluag | Male | Breton | Miner | The Reach | Markarth (Markarth Smelter) | Complete their favor |
| Onmund | Male | Nord | Student | Winterhold | Winterhold (College of Winterhold) | Complete their favor |
| Orla | Female | Nord | Priestess | The Reach | Markarth (Temple of Dibella) | Complete Temple Quests: The Heart of Dibella |
| Pavo Attius | Male | Imperial | Miner | The Reach | Left Hand Mine/Kolskeggr Mine | Complete his favor to liberate Kolskeggr Mine |
| Perth | Male | Breton | Miner | The Reach | Soljund’s Sinkhole | Complete their favor |
| Quintus Navale | Male | Imperial | Alchemist | Eastmarch | Windhelm (The White Phial) | Complete Side Quests: Repairing the Phial |
| Rayya | Female | Nord | Housecarl | Hjaalmarch | Highmoon Hall (Morthal) | Complete Thane’s Tasks: Thane of Falkreath* |
| Revyn Sadri | Male | Dark Elf | Merchant | Eastmarch | Windhelm (Sadri’s Used Wares) | Complete their favor |
| Ria | Female | Imperial | Companion | Whiterun | Whiterun (Jorrvaskr) | Complete the Companions Quests |
| Roggi Knot-Beard | Male | Nord | Miner | Eastmarch | Kynesgrove | Complete their favor |
| Romlyn Dreth | Male | Dark Elf | Meadery Worker | The Rift | Riften (Black-Briar Meadery) | Complete their favor |
| Scouts-Many-Marshes | Male | Argonian | Dockworker | Eastmarch | Windhelm (Argonian Assemblage) | Complete their favor |
| Senna | Female | Imperial | Priestess | The Reach | Markarth (Temple of Dibella) | Complete Temple Quests: The Heart of Dibella |
| Shahvee | Female | Argonian | Dockworker | Eastmarch | Windhelm (Argonian Assemblage) | Complete their favor |
| Sondas Drenim | Male | Dark Elf | Miner | Eastmarch | Darkwater Crossing | Complete their favor |
| Sorex Vinius | Male | Imperial | Assistant Innkeeper | Haafingar | Solitude (Winking Skeever) | Complete their favor |
| Stenvar | Male | Nord | Hireling | Eastmarch | Windhelm (Candlehearth Hall) | Hire them at least once |
| Sylgja | Female | Nord | Miner | The Rift | Shor’s Stone | Complete their favor |
| Taarie | Female | High Elf | Tailor | Haafingar | Solitude (Radiant Raiments) | Complete their favor |
| Temba Wide-Arm | Female | Nord | Miller | The Rift | Ivarstead | Complete their favor |
| Torvar | Male | Nord | Companion | Whiterun | Whiterun (Jorrvaskr) | Complete the Companions Quests |
| Uthgerd | Female | Nord | Warrior | Whiterun | Whiterun (Bannered Mare) | Challenge her to a brawl and win |
| Valdimar | Male | Nord | Housecarl | Hjaalmarch | Highmoon Hall (Morthal) | Complete Thane’s Tasks: Thane of Hjaalmarch* |
| Vilkas | Male | Nord | Companion | Whiterun | Whiterun (Jorrvaskr) | Complete the Companions Quests |
| Viola Giordano | Female | Imperial | Busybody | Eastmarch | Windhelm (Candlehearth Hall) | Start Revyn Sadri’s favor, but then rat him out to Viola |
| Vorstag | Male | Nord | Hireling | The Reach | Markarth (Silver-Blood Inn) | Hire them at least once |
| Wilhelm | Male | Nord | Innkeeper | The Rift | Ivarstead (Vilemyr Inn) | Complete Dungeon Quest: Wilhelm’s Specter |
| Ysolda | Female | Nord | Citizen | Whiterun | Whiterun (Open Market) | Complete their favor |
When you’re on friendly terms with your potential partner, they will notice—and mention—your Amulet of Mara and will usually express surprise that you’re not spoken for. You can choose to ignore this advance or ask if they’re interested in you. They answer that they are. But are you interested in them? Answer yes if you wish to continue down this road of happiness, or no to remain alone. You’re tasked with arranging the marriage straight away...in case one of you dies.
Return to Riften and find Maramel, either in the Temple of Mara or in the Bee and Barb. Tell him you’d like to have a wedding at the temple. He agrees, and sets the date for the next day, between dawn (5:00 a.m.) and dusk (7:00 p.m.).
Prosperity and Poverty, Joy, and Hardship
Oh, happy day! Tomorrow dawns, and you can head to the Temple of Mara at any time before dusk. Your spouse-to-be is already there and doesn’t need to be told to turn up. As you enter, the ceremony begins. Maramal conducts the ceremony and eventually asks if you agree to be bound together in love, now and forever. You can:
- Agree, for now and forever.
- Or freak out slightly, halt the wedding, and tell Maramal you can’t go through with it.
- Or freak out completely and attack everyone. Doing this or leaving the temple during the ceremony fails this quest, and usually ups your Crime in the Rift considerably.
Assuming you didn’t ruin your betrothed’s day, he declares you to be wed.
- The Bond of Matrimony
At this point, your spouse asks where you both should live, now that you’re married. They offer their own home to you. You can:
- Agree, and visit the house (which should appear on your world map). Depending on who you’ve married, this could be anything from a sturdy-built stone dwelling to a small tent in the tundra.
- Or, if you’ve already purchased a dwelling as part of the Thane Tasks, you can choose your spouse to live with you.
- Spouse
Quest Conclusion
The “happily ever after” part is next. Your spouse grants you the following benefits:
- You can ask them to serve up a home-cooked meal for you once every 24 hours.
- They set up a shop in the house you’re living in. If your spouse was a merchant, they sell what they did before. If they weren’t, they sell miscellaneous objects.
- You may sleep close to your spouse and receive a bonus, feeling your Lover’s Comfort when you awaken.
- If your spouse is also a Follower, they can accompany you on adventures.
- If your spouse is also a Trainer, you can train with them at your marital home.
- If your spouse is a Follower and a Trainer, you can train with them anywhere you like!
If you’ve chosen to marry your Housecarl, you move into the abode that your spouse is already in charge of (one of the ones you’ve owned or built yourself before hiring them).- If you have an adopted child, your spouse also becomes their mother or father, and your betrothed may speak with you about your child.
- Lover’s Comfort