You have been handing the same villager random flowers for three weeks and nothing is happening. Bro. Marriage in Stardew Valley is a clean step-by-step system, and skipping steps is why you are stuck.
Let’s get into it. This guide covers who you can marry in version 1.6, the exact items and costs, the order to do it in, and what married life actually gives you.
Marriage Basics
- Who: twelve villagers are marriage candidates. Abigail, Alex, Elliott, Emily, Haley, Harvey, Leah, Maru, Penny, Sam, Sebastian and Shane.
- Hearts: 8 hearts to give a Bouquet and start dating, 10 hearts to propose, and up to 14 hearts once married.
- Bouquet: sold at Pierre’s General Store for 200g.
- Mermaid’s Pendant: 5,000g from the Old Mariner on the beach, only on rainy days.
- House: your farmhouse needs at least the first upgrade from Robin before you can propose.
Stop Doing This: gifting whatever is in your pockets. You get two gifts per villager per week (plus their birthday), so every gift should be a like or a love.
Step by Step: From Stranger to Spouse
The Play: follow these in order. No improvising.
- Step 1: Pick your person. Check the gift table below and commit.
- Step 2: Talk to them every day and give two loved gifts per week. A loved gift on their birthday counts many times more than a normal day, so mark it on the calendar.
- Step 3: At 8 hearts, buy a Bouquet from Pierre for 200g and give it to them. You are now dating, and hearts 9 and 10 unlock.
- Step 4: Keep the daily talks and gifts going until 10 hearts. Watch the heart events as they trigger.
- Step 5: Upgrade the farmhouse at Robin’s. The first upgrade costs 10,000g and 450 Wood and takes a few days.
- Step 6: Fix the bridge on the east side of the beach (300 Wood) if you have not already. The Old Mariner stands past it on rainy days and sells the Mermaid’s Pendant for 5,000g.
- Step 7: Give the pendant to propose. The wedding happens three days later, in town.
- Step 8: Show up. Your spouse moves into the farmhouse that day.
Why This Slaps: the whole thing costs about 5,200g in items plus gifts and a house upgrade you want anyway. One of the best value plays in the game.
Loved Gifts for Every Marriage Candidate
Use these to fill hearts fast, before and after the wedding.
| Candidate | Easy loved gifts |
|---|---|
| Abigail | Amethyst, Pumpkin, Chocolate Cake, Spicy Eel |
| Alex | Complete Breakfast, Salmon Dinner |
| Elliott | Crab Cakes, Lobster, Pomegranate, Duck Feather |
| Emily | Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, Cloth, Wool |
| Haley | Sunflower, Coconut, Fruit Salad, Pink Cake |
| Harvey | Coffee, Pickles, Wine, Truffle Oil |
| Leah | Goat Cheese, Salad, Truffle, Wine |
| Maru | Battery Pack, Diamond, Strawberry, Gold Bar |
| Penny | Melon, Poppy, Diamond, Emerald |
| Sam | Pizza, Maple Bar, Cactus Fruit, Tigerseye |
| Sebastian | Frozen Tear, Obsidian, Sashimi, Pumpkin Soup |
| Shane | Beer, Hot Pepper, Pizza, Pepper Poppers |
Almost everyone also loves a Pearl, a Golden Pumpkin or Magic Rock Candy. And if you’re still gifting Shane flowers… we need to talk.
What Married Life Gives You
Every spouse brings the same core perks. The real difference is personality, their room and their schedule.
- Farm help: on some mornings your spouse waters crops, feeds animals, fixes fences or fills the pet bowl.
- Breakfast and gifts: they sometimes cook for you or hand you an item.
- Their own room: your spouse adds a personal room to the farmhouse, plus a little outdoor spot behind it.
- More hearts: the cap goes to 14, with extra events along the way.
- Kids: after the second farmhouse upgrade adds a nursery, your spouse may ask about having or adopting a child. You can have up to two.
Pro Tips
- Commit to one: dating several villagers at once eventually triggers a group confrontation, and they all give you the cold shoulder for a while. Pick a lane.
- Save gold early: start putting 5,000g aside while you are still at 7 or 8 hearts, so the first rainy day is the day you propose.
- Watch the forecast: the weather report on your TV tells you when rain is coming tomorrow.
- Keep talking after the wedding: a spouse you ignore gets grumpy and stops helping. A quick chat each day keeps hearts up.
- Plan the nursery: want kids? Do the second house upgrade early.
Want to see how many farmers are building their families right now? Check our Stardew Valley player count tracker.
Stardew Valley Marriage FAQ
How many hearts do you need to marry in Stardew Valley?
Ten. You give the Bouquet at 8 hearts to start dating, then propose with the Mermaid’s Pendant at 10 hearts.
Where do you buy the Mermaid’s Pendant?
From the Old Mariner on the east side of the beach, past the repaired bridge, on rainy days. It costs 5,000g.
Do you need to upgrade your house to get married?
Yes. The farmhouse needs at least the first upgrade from Robin before a proposal works.
How long after proposing is the wedding?
Three days. The ceremony takes place in town and your spouse moves in the same day.
Can you marry more than one villager?
No. You can marry one villager per farmer. Dating several at once leads to a group confrontation event.
GG: you have the full roadmap. Open your Social tab tonight, pick your person, and walk into Pierre’s tomorrow for that Bouquet. Do this. Thank me later.
