Skyrim — Marriage and Romance Options Guide
Skyrim is 10 years old and its idea of romance hasn’t exactly aged all that well, but you shouldn’t let that stop you from sitting down and having a jolly good time with what Bethesda has provided you with in regards to romance options.
For those who are just jumping into the fantastical world of The Elder Scrolls, a quick explanation: you play as the legendary Dragonborn warrior, the only one able to save Skyrim from utter doom. Along the way you’ll meet a huge number of characters that can be your friends, companions, lovers and even your husband or wife… If you play your cards right.
With that new information, it’ll no doubt leads you to your next question: who are the romance options in Skyrim, how does romance even work, and what’s all this malarkey about marriage? Oh and, can you be gay in this game?
Well, have we got the guide for you!
Skyrim — How Romance (and Marriage) Works in Skyrim
Unlike when your parents got together by using their charms and good looks, Skyrim asks you to talk to a priest or priestess that follows Mara, the Goddess of Love. It’s easy enough and all you have to do is spend some time talking to someone, and well, purchasing an amulet for 200 gold – but it’s worth it for love, right?
With an amulet obtained, you’ll be able to find the person you feel deeply for and ask for their hand in marriage. It’s both adorable and a little creepy, but you have to remember that this game came out 10 years ago, so do forgive it some eccentricities.
Of course, you won’t be able to romance just anyone. There are a lot of NPCs in Skyrim and there are a few who are already paired up, and then there’s just some out there that just aren’t into you more than they are into murder and mercenary work… With that in mind though, how can you tell which characters might be looking for a chance to wear your Amulet of Mara?
Well first off, a character will express interest by saying stuff like ‘I’m glad you’re around’ or calling you a ‘friend’ or even just someone they trust. The difficulty with this is that some characters won’t say this unless you’ve completed a specific quest tied to them, meaning that bigger characters like Aela the Huntress and Vilkas won’t express their interest until you’ve finished a number of quests.
Secondly, if you’re really unsure about who is viable then 1) look at our list below or 2) get into a conversation with them. If there is a dialogue option available where you can show them the Amulet of Mara, you’ve just found yourself a viable marriage candidate. Nice!
Once you’ve both equipped the Amulet of Mara and found someone who will want to spend the rest of their days with you, head on up to them and they’ll notice that you’re wearing the amulet. They’ll make some sort of comment, and you can ask them if they are interested in you. Because this is a video game, they definitely are.
After you’ve both expressed your interest in one another, you’ll be given 24 hours to get to the Temple of Mara in Riften and initiate a ceremony. After that, ta-da! You’re married, congratulations!
Skyrim — All of the Romance Options in Skyrim
Unlike now times, where romance options for some games are divided by sexual preference, Skyrim makes it so that all the characters you meet are very much into you regardless of your gender. It may not be realistic, but this is the game that can let you sneak in the middle of an open battlefield. Realism? Who needs it?
Here is the full list of romance options available for you to marry in Skyrim.
Male Romance Options in Skyrim
- Ainethach – Karthwasten Hall in Karthwasten
- Angrenor Once-Honored – Candlehearth Hall in Windhelm
- Argis the Bulwark – Vlindrel Hall in Markarth
- Athis – The Mead Hall of Jorrvaskr in Whiterun
- Balimund – The Scorched Hammer in Riften
- Belrand – The Winking Skeever in Solitude
- Benor – Usually hangs around outside the Guardhouse in Morthal during the day and the Moorside Inn at night
- Calder – Hjerim in Windhelm
- Cosnach – The Warrens in Markarth
- Derkeethus – Darkwater Pass
- Erik the Slayer– Frostfruit Inn in Rorikstead
- Farkas – The Mead Hall of Jorrvaskr in Whiterun
- Filnjar – Filnjar’s House in Shor’s Stone
- Gat gro-Shargakh – Pavo’s House at Kolskeggr Mine
- Ghorbash the Iron Hand – Orc stronghold of Dushnikh Yal
- Marcurio – The Bee and Barb in Riften
- Moth gro-Bagol – The Understone Keep in Markarth
- Octieve San – The Winking Skeever in Solitude
- Omluag – The Warrens in Markarth
- Onmund – The College of Winterhold
- Pavo Attius – Can be found at the Left Hand Mine, then at the Kolskeggr Mine
- Perth – In Soljund’s Sinkhole, just east of Markath
- Quintus Navale – The White Phial in Windhelm
- Revyn Sadri – Sadri’s Used Wares in Windhelm
- Roggi Knot-Beard – The Steamscorch Mine in Kynesgrove
- Romlyn Dreth – Romlyn Dreth’s House in Riften
- Scouts-Many-Marshes – The Argonian Assemblage in Windhelm
- Sondas Drenim – The Goldenrock Mine in Darkwater Crossing (Southern Eastmarch)
- Sorex Vinius – The Winking Skeever in Solitude
- Stenvar – The Candlehearth Hall in Windhelm
- Torvar – The Mead Hall of Jorrvaskr in Whiterun
- Vilkas – The Mead Hall of Jorrvaskr in Whiterun
- Vorstag – The Silver-Blood Inn in Markarth
- Wilhelm – The Vilemyr Inn in Ivarstead
Female Romance Options in Skyrim
- Aela the Huntress – The Mead Hall of Jorrvaskr in Whiterun
- Aeri – Aeri’s House at Anga’s Mill, West of Windhelm
- Anwen – The Temple of Dibella in Markarth
- Avrusa Sarethi – Sarethi Farm, West of Riften
- Borgahk the Steel Heart – The Orc camp at Mor Khazgur
- Brelyna Maryon – The College of Winterhold
- Camilla Valerius – Riverwood
- Dravynea the Stoneweaver – The Braidwood Inn at Kynesgrove
- Ghorza gra-Bagol – Markarth Forge in Markarth
- Gilfre – Gilfre’s house at Mixwater Mill, South of Windhelm
- Grelka – Haelga’s Bunkhouse in Riften
- Iona – Honeyside once player becomes the Thane of Riften
- Jenassa – The Drunken Huntsman in Whiterun
- Jordis the Sword-Maiden – Proudspire Manor in Solitude
- Lydia – Dragonsreach Castle in Whiterun
- Mjoll the Lioness – The Bee and Barb Inn in Riften
- Muiri – The Hag’s Cure in Markarth
- Njada Stonearm – The Mead Hall of Jorrvaskr in Whiterun
- Orla – The Temple of Dibella in Markarth
- Ria – The Mead Hall of Jorrvaskr in Whiterun
- Senna – The Temple of Dibella in Markarth
- Shahvee – The docks of Windhelm
- Sylgja – The village of Shor’s Stone
- Taarie – The Radiant Raiment tailor shop in Solitude
- Temba Wide-Arm – The sawmill in Ivarstead, or the Vilemyr Inn
- Uthgerd – The Bannered Mare in Whiterun
- Viola Giordano – The Candlehearth Hall in Windhelm
- Ysolda – Marketplace in Whiterun
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