You’ve spent dozens of hours clearing rocks, planting parsnips, and trying to figure out why Mayor Lewis is hiding his "shorts" in Marnie’s bedroom. But eventually, the farm gets lonely. You realize that coming home to an empty farmhouse after a long day in the Skull Cavern feels a bit hollow. You want a spouse. Specifically, you want someone to occasionally water three crops that your sprinklers were already covering or give you a bowl of Pepper Poppers in the morning.
Figuring out Stardew Valley how to get married isn't just about clicking a button. It’s a slow burn. It requires a mix of bribery, extreme social stalking, and waiting for a very specific rainy day.
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Honestly, the romance system in Pelican Town is surprisingly rigid. You can't just marry anyone. Robin is married to Demetrius (much to the chagrin of the fanbase), and Linus is committed to his tent and the wild berries. You’ve got a specific pool of twelve bachelors and bachelorettes. If they don't have the (single) tag next to their name in your social menu, you’re out of luck.
Picking Your Person and Breaking the Ice
First things first. You need to pick a target.
Are you into the brooding artist vibe? Go find Sebastian in his basement. Want someone who actually has a career? Harvey is your guy, though his healthcare advice gets old fast. The game divides your options equally between six men and six women. Gender doesn't matter for the player character—everyone is player-sexual in Pelican Town.
The heart meter is your Bible. You start at zero. You need to hit eight hearts before the game even considers you "dating" material. This is where the grind begins. You can give two gifts per week, plus a bonus gift on their birthday. Do not forget birthdays. A "Loved" gift on a birthday is worth eight times the normal friendship points. It can skip you ahead by nearly two full hearts in a single day.
I’ve seen people try to wing it by giving everyone Salmonberries. Don't do that. Most NPCs think Salmonberries are "meh" at best.
The Eight-Heart Wall
You’ll notice that once you hit eight hearts with a single NPC, the meter kind of... stops. It grays out. This is the game's way of saying, "Stop being a creep and make a move."
To break past this, you need a Bouquet. You buy this from Pierre’s General Store for 200 gold. It’s cheap. Once you give it to your chosen interest, your status changes to "boyfriend" or "girlfriend." More importantly, the cap moves to ten hearts.
Stardew Valley How to Get Married: The Mermaid’s Pendant
You’ve hit ten hearts. You’ve seen the cutscenes—like Shane’s incredibly depressing (but well-written) arc or Abigail’s weird flute sessions in the rain. Now you need the ring. Well, not a ring. A pendant.
In Stardew Valley, marriage is governed by an Old Mariner who only shows up when it’s raining. You’ll find him on the far right side of the beach, across the wooden bridge that costs 300 pieces of wood to repair.
The Catch with the Mariner
He won't sell to you if you’re a scrub. You need two things:
- A House Upgrade. You must have upgraded your farmhouse at least once. This adds the kitchen. The Mariner basically thinks if you can't cook a meal, you shouldn't be starting a family.
- 5,000 Gold. Which, by the time you're at ten hearts, should be pocket change.
Buy the Mermaid’s Pendant.
Once you hand that blue shell over to your partner, they’ll agree immediately. There’s no chance of rejection if you’ve followed the steps. The wedding is scheduled for three days later. If a festival happens to fall on that day, the wedding gets pushed.
The Reality of Married Life
The wedding ceremony is cute. Everyone shows up, Lewis says some words, and then—poof—you’re back at the farm. Your spouse moves in.
They bring a "spouse room" with them. This is a small 6x12 area attached to the bedroom that reflects their personality. Sebastian brings his gaming setup; Emily brings her sewing machine. If you care about the aesthetic of your house, look up what their room looks like before you commit. Some of them are... messy.
Maintaining the Flame
Marriage isn't the end of the social game. The heart meter expands to 14 hearts. If you stop talking to them or stop giving them gifts, they’ll get grumpy. They might stay in bed all day. They might even get jealous if you keep giving gifts to other "single" NPCs.
At 12.5 hearts (3,125 friendship points), you get the ultimate prize: a Stardrop. This increases your maximum energy permanently. It’s the mechanical reason to get married, though most people just do it for the vibes.
Common Mistakes and Weird Nuances
People often ask if they can marry the same person twice. If you get a divorce at the Mayor’s house (for a cool 50,000 gold), your ex will hate you. They won’t talk to you. They won't attend your next wedding. You have to go to the Witch’s Hut and pay a shrine to wipe their memory if you want to woo them again. It’s dark. Stardew hides some heavy themes behind that 16-bit art style.
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What about Krobus?
If you don't want a spouse, you can have Krobus, the shadow monster from the sewers, move in as a "roommate." You use a Void Ghost Pendant instead of a Mermaid’s Pendant. He doesn’t kiss you, but he does make Lucky Lunch. It’s a great alternative for players who find the NPC dialogue a bit repetitive.
Step-by-Step for the Successful Farmer
If you’re staring at your screen wondering why Emily won't love you, follow this sequence:
- Check the Wiki for Loved Gifts. Seriously. Don't guess. Giving Haley a Prismatic Shard (which she hates) is a mistake you only make once.
- Talk to them daily. It’s a small boost, but it prevents friendship decay.
- Save 300 wood early. Get that beach bridge fixed so you can check the Mariner's spawn point.
- Watch the weather. If it’s Winter, it doesn’t rain. This means you cannot get the Mermaid’s Pendant in Winter unless you use a Rain Totem. Plan accordingly or you'll be waiting until Spring 1 to propose.
- The 14-Heart Event. Every spouse has a unique event at 14 hearts. Some of these involve new clothing items or permanent changes to the town map.
Once the ceremony is over, make sure you actually have furniture. Your spouse will occasionally comment on the state of the house. If you’ve left the place a barren wasteland of kegs and chests, they might not be thrilled. But hey, as long as the Ancient Fruit wine is selling, who cares?
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Next, you should focus on the nursery. Even if you don't want kids, the second house upgrade is required to eventually reach "Perfection" status in the game's late-game tracking. Whether you fill those cribs or keep them empty is up to you.