The Temple of Mara in Riften is dedicated to Mara, goddess of love. It’s Skyrim’s wedding chapel and matchmaking office rolled into one, staffed by priests who take romance very seriously. Come here to get married, to play cupid for the locals, or just to pray for cheaper healing spells.
What you’ll find
- Shrine of Mara – praying here lowers the cost of Restoration spells by 15 percent for a while.
- Maramal – priest of Mara who explains marriage in Skyrim and sells Amulets of Mara for 200 gold. You can also find him at The Bee and Barb.
- Dinya Balu – priestess and quest giver for The Book of Love.
- Briehl – also serves at the temple.
Quests
- The Book of Love – Dinya Balu sends you to meddle in the love lives of various Skyrim citizens. As a bonus you can get an Amulet of Mara for free along the way.
- Marriage – get an Amulet of Mara, wear it, and certain citizens will ask whether you’re looking for someone. Some can’t be married at all; others want a task done first. After proposing, return here, talk to the priest and wait for the ceremony the next day.
Notable items
- Amulet of Mara – 10 percent bonus to Restoration spells and your ticket to married life.
Tips
You don’t have to buy the amulet from Maramal: it can turn up in containers, on enemies or from other sellers, and The Book of Love gives you one free. Wear it only when you’re actually shopping for a spouse, unless you enjoy being propositioned in the middle of a dungeon run. Pray at the shrine before a long healing-heavy fight to stretch your magicka.
Good to know
If you spared Erandur at the end of Waking Nightmare and bring him here, he’s genuinely delighted – he always wanted to make a pilgrimage to the Temple of Mara. Riften has few happy moments, so enjoy this one.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim game files, summarised in our own words.