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If you want a spouse for the shop benefit, the available guides do not show that one marriage candidate pays more than another. Choose based on where you want to live, whether you want a follower, and how much quest or favor work you are willing to do. Marriage is described as offering a spouse shop, daily cooking, and a choice of shared home; the exact payout and candidate requirements are not firmly established across current editions.
What marriage provides
The community-edited Skyrim Wiki marriage overview describes three practical benefits: access to a spouse shop and trading, daily home-cooked food, and the option to live in either the spouse’s home or the player’s home. The shop benefit is an interaction, not evidence that a visible storefront building appears for the player.
An older GameFAQs Skyrim Special Edition character guide reports 100 gold per day from the spouse shop. A 2022 Steam Community discussion quotes UESP as describing “100 gold or more a day,” accumulated over time. Since the underlying UESP page was not available and the other figure comes from an older guide, treat these as reported descriptions of the mechanic—not a verified current payout guarantee.
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Use these factors to decide what “best” means for your character. The candidate examples below come from an older roster guide, so check that the relevant dialogue and conditions are available in your game and current progression.
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| Priority | What to check | What the available guides establish |
|---|---|---|
| Home fit | Whether the candidate has a home, and whether you would rather live there or move them to a player-owned home. | The Elder Souls candidate guide lists homes or property for some candidates, including Aeri. It does not establish that one home is universally better. |
| Follower fit | Whether you want your spouse to accompany you or prefer a spouse who stays at home. | The older Elder Souls list identifies Aela as a follower candidate. Candidate availability can depend on game progress. |
| Merchant fit | Whether the candidate already has a merchant role, or whether the general spouse-shop benefit is enough. | The Elder Souls guide lists Aela as a merchant, trainer, and follower. The sources do not establish that a spouse’s prior merchant role increases the marriage shop payout. |
| Unlock effort | What quest, favor, or progression is needed before marriage dialogue becomes available. | The Elder Souls guide lists a favor condition for Aeri. Requirements differ by candidate; confirm the current condition for the character you are considering. |
| Income confidence | Whether you mainly want the reported shop income or a spouse who also suits your home and play style. | The older guide reports 100 gold per day; a 2022 Steam participant quotes UESP as saying “100 gold or more a day.” Neither source establishes a spouse-by-spouse payout ranking or a current guarantee. |
Two examples to narrow the choice
Aela: a follower and merchant example
The older candidate guide presents Aela as a follower, merchant, and trainer. She is a reasonable example to consider if you value a companion and an existing merchant role. The available evidence does not show that marrying her pays more than marrying someone else, so choose her for those character traits rather than a promised income advantage.
Aeri: a home and favor example
The same guide lists Aeri as having a home and a favor condition. She may suit a player comparing home arrangements or willing to complete a listed favor first. The guide is older, so treat its candidate details as a starting point rather than a guarantee for every edition, mod setup, or stage of a playthrough.
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What the evidence does not settle
- It does not establish a reliable, current payout comparison between individual spouses.
- It does not verify the exact behavior of every candidate across editions, updates, and mod configurations.
- It describes a spouse-shop benefit and trading interaction, not a player-accessible storefront building.
For a shop-focused marriage, the practical decision is therefore about home, follower usefulness, merchant identity, and unlock requirements—not a proven difference in passive income.
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- Winner of more than 200 game of the year awards, Skyrim special edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail
- The special edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features
- All-new features include remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, use of alcohol
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