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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsSkyrim has no official “best wife”: the right spouse depends on which characters you like, what you have already done, and whether you want an easy favor, a follower, or a connection to a questline. This shortlist covers ten practical marriage candidates, their unlock requirements, and the ceremony steps. The candidate details are drawn from The Elder Scrolls Wiki’s community-maintained marriage guide; check the dialogue in your game if a requirement differs by edition or mod setup.
How marriage works in Skyrim
To unlock marriage proposals, speak with Maramal in Riften about marriage, wear an Amulet of Mara, and meet the chosen character’s prerequisite. Once the candidate offers the marriage dialogue, propose, then return to Maramal to arrange the ceremony.
- Talk to Maramal about marriage. He may be at the Bee and Barb or the Temple of Mara in Riften. Discussing marriage is important; wearing an amulet alone does not unlock every proposal.
- Get and wear an Amulet of Mara. Maramal sells one for 200 gold, according to the community references. It can also be found as random loot or obtained as a reward for The Book of Love.
- Complete the candidate’s requirement. Depending on the person, this may mean finishing a quest, delivering an item, or hiring them.
- Speak to the candidate while wearing the amulet. Choose the marriage proposal dialogue when it becomes available.
- Return to Maramal and arrange the wedding. The ceremony begins no sooner than about 24 in-game hours later. Attend the Temple of Mara and accept the final prompt.
- Choose where to live. After the ceremony, speak to your spouse about a home. You can later ask to move to another owned home or an eligible spouse property.
10 marriage candidates to consider
This is a practical shortlist, not an official ranking. The requirements and starting locations below come from a community-maintained marriage reference, rather than an official Bethesda guide. Individual availability can depend on game version and quest state.
1. Aela the Huntress
Where to find her: Jorrvaskr in Whiterun. Requirement: Complete Glory of the Dead. Aela makes sense if you are already pursuing the Companions questline; she is a less convenient pick if you want to marry early without faction progress.
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2. Lydia
Where to find her: Whiterun. Requirement: Complete Dragon Rising and own Breezehome. Lydia is a straightforward option for a player who has already advanced the main quest and bought the Whiterun home.
3. Mjoll the Lioness
Where to find her: Riften. Requirement: Retrieve Grimsever from Mzinchaleft. Her prerequisite is a dungeon trip, so factor in the additional travel and combat before choosing her for a quick marriage.
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4. Ysolda
Where to find her: Whiterun’s market area. Requirement: Give her a mammoth tusk. This is a small favor rather than a long faction quest, making her a convenient choice if you have the item or can obtain one.
5. Camilla Valerius
Where to find her: Riverwood Trader. Requirement: Complete The Golden Claw. She is an accessible option for players who have completed Riverwood’s early main-quest favor.
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6. Jenassa
Where to find her: The Drunken Huntsman in Whiterun. Requirement: Hire her. Her unlock is based on paying for her services, not finishing a long quest chain.
7. Borgakh the Steel Heart
Where to find her: Mor Khazgur. Requirement: Pay her dowry or persuade her to leave. This is a choice-based route for players interested in visiting an Orc stronghold.
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- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, use of alcohol
8. Muiri
Where to find her: The Hag’s Cure in Markarth. Requirement: Complete Mourning Never Comes, including killing both targets. This is a consequential quest condition, so do not choose her assuming that simply completing the quest without both kills will be enough.
9. Sylgja
Where to find her: Shor’s Stone. Requirement: Take her satchel to her father at Darkwater Crossing, then return it to her. This delivery task is a relatively short prerequisite.
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10. Shahvee
Where to find her: The Argonian Assemblage in Windhelm. Requirement: Return her amulet. She may die during Blood on the Ice; if you want to marry her, consider resolving the marriage before starting that quest.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose the right spouse
There is no objective ranking that makes one candidate best for every Dragonborn. Compare the practical trade-offs, then choose based on the character you want in your playthrough.
- Unlock effort: Jenassa requires hiring, while Ysolda and Shahvee require item favors. Aela’s route involves a faction questline, and Mjoll’s requires a dungeon retrieval.
- Home and location: Consider where the character lives before marriage and which homes are available to your household afterward.
- Follower utility: If you want a spouse who can also accompany you, confirm that candidate’s follower status in your game before making it a deciding factor; the community reference used here does not establish a comparable follower rating for all ten.
- Quest timing and consequences: Muiri’s two-target condition and Shahvee’s risk during Blood on the Ice can affect whether or when their marriage dialogue remains available.
- Roleplay preference: Appearance, voice, story connection, and character fit are matters of taste, not measurable marriage advantages.
What marriage changes—and what it does not
The Elder Scrolls Wiki community page describes several benefits, but these figures are community-reference claims rather than independently verified developer documentation:
- A spouse can act as a general merchant and provide the Dragonborn a share of 100 gold every 24 hours. The page does not state a publication year.
- A spouse can prepare a homemade meal once a day.
- Sleeping in the same house can grant Lover’s Comfort, a 15% increase to skill-learning rate for eight hours. The community page notes exceptions involving the Lover Stone and werewolf status; the exact circumstances should be checked in the game.
Your spouse can live at their property or at one of your owned homes, depending on availability. You can later request a move through spouse dialogue. With Hearthfire installed, the spouse joins the household where your adopted child lives.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Serana is not a normal marriage option: the community reference says proposal dialogue may appear, but she refuses. Ordinary play also does not provide a way to remarry after a spouse dies; the listed console workaround is specific to PC and is not a standard in-game option.
Quick Recap
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