How to Turn Your Spouse Into a Vampire with Dawnguard in Skyrim

Getting Married

Choose your spouse. If you are not already married it is time to get married. You will want to select your spouse carefully because some spouses cannot be made into vampires. Ysolda is a favorite choice of spouse because of the unusual markings she gets from being made into a vampire, as well as her relative ease to convince to marry. She can be found in Whiterun in the market.

Know which spouse to get. You will not be able to get the quest, “The Gift” if you are married to any of the following people: Aela the Huntress, Argis the Bulwark, Athis, Benor, Borgakh the Steel Heart, Cosnach, Derkeethus, Dravynea the Stoneweaver, Farkas, Ghorza gra-Bagol, Jenassa, Octieve San, Omluag, Perth, Romlyn Dreth, Scouts-Many-Marshes, Shahvee, Sondas Drenim, Stenvar, Torvar, Vilkas, Viola Giordano, or Vorstag. However Vilkas and Farkas can be turned if they are cured from their lycanthropy. Avoid marrying any of the people listed above.

Speak to Maramal and get an Amulet of Mara. In order to get married you will need to speak to Maramal in Riften. He will open new dialogue options to your intended. If you do not already have an Amulet of Mara, you can also purchase one from him. Then wear it when speaking to your new beloved.

Getting the Quest

Complete side missions in Castle Volkihar. In order to receive the quest “The Gift” you must first complete an undetermined number of side quests for the vampires of Castle Volkihar. At this time, there is no indication of exactly how many quests need to be completed before you can receive the mission from Vingalmo. If you do not receive the quest, even after performing many tasks for the vampires, you are likely married to an incompatible character. Double-check the list above.

Speak to Vingalmo. Vingalmo will give you the suggestion that you should turn your spouse into a vampire by using the Vampire’s Seduction skill. This skill will either automatically show up in your skills list upon receiving the quest “The Gift” or it will appear sometime during the next day. If you do not see it in your skill list immediately, use the in-game ability “Wait” to wait a total of 24 hours. Do not speak to your spouse before you have the skill Vampire’s Seduction after you gain “The Gift” quest, as this can bug the rest of the quest and make it impossible to complete.

Use the skill Vampire’s Seduction on your spouse. Be careful as this power can only be used once an in-game day. Once you have used it on your spouse you can bite them and effectively turn them into a vampire. Do not use the Vampire’s Seduction power on your spouse while he or she is sleeping.

Return to Vingalmo. Once your spouse has entered the change from human to vampire you can return to Vingalmo to finish the quest. Finishing the quest will make the Vampire’s Seduction power permanent.