Need to know how Stardew Valley marriage works? It follows a few simple rules. And unless you go down their respective paths perfectly, you won’t be able to invite one of the game’s single characters to live on your farm, have a baby, and even potentially divorce.
Following a popular trend of the cosy farming game genre, Stardew Valley lets you tie the knot with a select few of its singletons. How the game plays out after that doesn’t massively change, but it’s good for both the unique dialogue lines and the occasional helping hand.
For more Stardew Valley tips and tricks, check out our detailed fishing hub, wise words on how to milk cows, and how to solve the Winter Mystery quest. And if it’s mods you’re after, you can add Pokemon to Stardew Valley and even stay up late in an interesting act of defiance.
How to get married in Stardew Valley
Getting married in Stardew Valley requires two specific items — a Bouquet and a Mermaid’s Pendent — and a whole lot of time. You’ll also need to have repaired the bridge in town and upgraded the farmhouse to fit your soon-to-be spouse.
After reaching Friendship Level 8 with the character you want to marry (more on how to get there with this romance and gifting guide) you just need to gift the Bouquet to them to instigate the ‘Boyfriend/Girlfriend’ relationship status. This allows you to reach Friendship Level 10.
At Friendship Level 10, you can tie the knot by gifting the character the Mermaid’s Pendent.
Three days after this (unless an in-game event gets in the way), the wedding cutscene will kick off on that morning and move time forward to 6am the following day, where they’ll have moved into your farmhouse.
Your Friendship Level will increase to 14 at this time.
How to get the Bouquet in Stardew Valley
You can get the bouquet used to begin dating a character in Stardew Valley from Pierre’s Store for 200g.
Bouquets can be given to multiple eligible partners without consequence, with a Wilted Bouquet given as a gift serving to break the relationship status.
How to get the Mermaid’s Pendent in Stardew Valley
The Mermaid’s Pendent used to propose in Stardew Valley can be bought from the Old Mariner for 5,000g after upgrading the farmhouse one time and reaching Friendship Level 10 with a character.
Who to marry in Stardew Valley
- Sebastian
- Emily
- Alex
- Sam
- Abigail
- Elliot
- Harvey
- Shane
- Haley
- Leah
- Maru
- Penny
Though any Stardew Valley spouse will occasionally help out with farm tasks, the uniquely-decorated rooms, outdoor spaces, and dialogue lines will differ depending on your choice.
Above, we’ve ranked five of the best NPCs marry in Stardew Valley based on those points.
Sebastian and his brooding persona will give way more and more through the dating and marriage sequence. He’ll even bring his motorbike to the farm and create a bit of a 90s den in the house.
Emily will bring her parrot to live you with and add a spot of colour to the outer area of the house with her crystal collection.
Alex brings the football jock vibes to the house and spends the day lifting weights with his shirt off on the farm. It’s a sight to behold mostly because his model isn’t any more built-up than any other.
Sam brings not only a modern PC and music equipment to the house, but also a half-pipe he shreds up on his skateboard in the back area of the farm.
Abigail might bring a noisy drum kit into the home, but she’s also packing pets, a huge retro TV, potential Super Nintendo, and a flute she’ll practice outside.
Elliot will set up a garden behind the farmhouse where you will sometimes find him reading his books.
Harvey will also set up a garden after moving in and continue to work at the clinic.
Shane builds a chicken coop behind the farmhouse where he visits his chicken named Charlie.
Haley will spend time in the garden taking pictures after marrying her. She is likely to offer you something sweet for breakfast.
Leah has an artistic side, so you'll find her working on sculptures in a space behind the farmhouse after getting married.
Maru loves tinkering with her gadgets so when she's not working at the clinic, she'll be in her workshop behind the farmhouse.
Penny enjoys reading books in the garden so that's where you'll find her when she isn't working at the Museum.
How to have babies in Stardew Valley
To have a baby in Stardew Valley, you just need to unlock the Nursery upgrade for the Farmhouse by upgrading it a second time.
After that, there’s a chance, at bedtime at least seven days after your wedding, that your partner will ask if you want a child. If you agree, the baby will appear in your home 14-days after the question.
Can gay couples have babies in Stardew Valley?
You can have a baby with any gender character, with there being no difference between a biological child between an opposite-sex couple or an adopted child by a same-sex couple.
How to remove a child in Stardew Valley
You can remove a child from your household by offering a Prismatic Shard to the Dark Shrine of Selfishness in the Witch’s Hut.
How to get a child in Stardew Valley after declining the first
If the request to have a child is ignored, or you remove a child from your house, your spouse will potentially ask to have another in the same manner they did the first.
Can you have more than one child in Stardew Valley?
You can have two children at any one time, with the second (which will always be of the opposite gender) being proposed only after the first has begun walking. Neither child will age beyond this.
How to divorce in Stardew Valley
If you want to live the single life or marry someone new, you can get a divorce in Stardew Valley by interacting with the book by the Lost and Found box on the far-left side of the Mayor’s Manor east of the Graveyard area.
Divorcing in Stardew Valley costs 50,000g and can only be cancelled until 10pm of the same day it is instigated, when the building closes for the night.
For more Stardew Valley guides, check out our character hub to better decide who is for you. And if you don't care, focus on our fishing hub instead. If you're in need of a specific gift, learning about trees and tappers might be the key.