How to marry Sam in Stardew Valley: Gifts, schedule, more

Emily Stander
Sam in Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley has no shortage of bachelors and bachelorettes to marry, and Sam is one of them. Here is how you can marry him, what the best gifts are, what his schedule is, and everything else you need to know. 

Sam is one of Stardew Valley’s younger marriage candidates with a keen interest in music. He’s quite sweet, and that’s what makes him one of the favorite choices for marriage

It takes quite some time to get people to marry you in Stardew Valley, though, so here is everything you need to make sure Sam says yes to your proposal. 

How to marry Sam in Stardew Valley

To marry Sam in Stardew Valley, you need to get to ten hearts of friendship with him and then propose with a Mermaid Pendant

Sam in conversation Stardew Valley
Sam will come to live with you on your farm when you marry him.

Getting to full friendship points with anyone in Stardew Valley can be quite the challenge, but it’s definitely easier if you give them the right gifts, especially on their birthday. To start, here is all the basic info you need to know about Sam: 

  • Birthday: Summer 17
  • Lives in: Pelican Town
  • Home Address: 1 Willow Lane
  • Clinic visit day: Fall 11

Sam lives with Jodi, his mom, and Vincent, his brother, for all of Year 1 in Stardew Valley. At the start of Year 2, his father, Kent, will return from war and join their home once again. He is friends with Sebastian and Abigail, and he loves playing music. 

Once you reach eight hearts with Sam, you can buy a bouquet from Pierre’s store and gift them to him. This will officially start your relationship. Once you reach ten hearts with him, you can buy a Mermaid Pendant on a rainy day from the Old Marimer at the Tidal Pools on the beach and ask him to marry you. 

Best gifts for Sam in Stardew Valley 

Stardew Valley players who want to get Sam the best gifts will need to invest in Pizza, Tigerseye, Cactus Fruit, and Maple Bar.

Just like all other NPCs, Sam has specific likes and dislikes. Here are all of them listed: 

  • Loves: All Universal Loves, Cactus Fruit, Maple Bar, Pizza, Tigerseye
  • Likes: All Eggs (except Void Egg), All Universal Likes (except Duck Mayonnaise, Mayonnaise, Pickles, & Vegetables), Joja Cola 
  • Neutral: All Universal Neutrals, All Fruit (except Cactus Fruit, Fruit Tree Fruit, and Salmonberry), All Milk
  • Dislikes: Chanterelle, Common Mushroom, Daffodil, Dandelion, Ginger, Hazelnut, Holly, Leek, Magma Cap, Morel, Purple Mushroom, Quartz, Salmonberry, Seaweed, Snow Yam, Wild Horseradish, Winter Root
  • Hates: All Universal Hates (except Joja Cola & Seaweed), Caol, Copper Bar, Duck Mayonnaise, Gold Bar, Gold ore, Iridium Bar, Iridium Ore, Iron Bar, Mayonnaise, Pickles, Refined Quartz
Cactus Fruit in Stardew Valley
Cactus Fruit is one of Sam’s loved gifts.

Giving Sam gifts that he loves and likes will be the primary way to get your friendship points up with him. Gifting him a gift that he loves on his birthday will award you eight times the usual amount it would, which equates to around two or three hearts. 

You can give NPCs gifts twice a week and once on their birthday. The other main way to get your friendship points up with Sam is to make sure to talk to him at least once a day. 

At the movies

If you decide to fix up the Community Center, then you will get access to a movie theatre where JojaMart used to be once you complete the Incomplete Bundle. You can take NPCs on dates here, and each has an opinion on what’s showing and the snacks. 

Here are the movies and snacks Sam loves and likes: 

  • Loved movies: Wumbus
  • Liked movies: It Howls in the Rain, Journey of the Prairie King: Motion Picture, Mysterium, Natural Wonders: Exploring Our Vibrant World, The Brave Little Sapling
  • Loved snacks: Personal Pizza, Stardrop Sorbet
  • Liked snacks: Everything except Apple Slices, Black Licorice, Capuccino Mousse Cake, Hummus Snack Pack, Jasmine Tea, JojaCorn, Kale Smoothie, Panzanella Salad, and Truffle Popcorn.

Sam’s schedule in Stardew Valley

Sam has a unique schedule in Stardew Valley, just like all other NPCs, and it differs with each season, weather, and day. 

Knowing Sam’s schedule means you can make sure you get gifts to him on time and make the time to chat with him day-to-day. Before you hit two hearts with him, you won’t be able to enter his room, so it’s most important in the early game to know where he will be. 

Spring Schedule

Monday and Wednesday

TimeLocation
11:00AMLeaves his bedroom and walks to JojaMart (or Museum if Community Center is restored).
4:00 PMFinishes work at JojaMart (or Museum if Community Center is restored) and walks home.
6:00 PMAt home.

Tuesday

TimeLocation
10:00 AM-2:00 PMIn his bedroom.
2:00 PM-6:30 PMLeaves his house and stands near Lewis’ house by the river.
6:30 PMGoes home.

Thursday

TimeLocation
10:00 AM-1:40 PMIn his room.
3:00 PM-6:30 PMStands in front of the bush to the southeast of Lewis’ house.
7:50 PMAt home.

Friday

TimeLocation
11:00 AM-3:00 PMLeaves his bedroom and skateboards outside of his house.
4:00 PM-9:20 PMAt the Stardrop Saloon.
10:20 PMAt home.

Regular Schedule

TimeLocation
10:00 AM-1:40 PMIn his room.
1:40 PM-6:30 PMLeaves his bedroom, walks into town, and stands near Lewis’ house by the river.
6:30 PMAt home.

Rainy Day

TimeLocation
11:00 AM-4:00 PMLeaves his bedroom and walks to the bridge near the Museum.
4:00 PM-4:40 PMLeaves the bridge near the Museum and walks to the tree in front of Emily and Haley’s house.
7:00 PMAt home.

Summer Schedule

Monday and Wednesday

TimeLocation
11:00AMLeaves his bedroom and walks to JojaMart (or Museum if Community Center is restored).
4:00 PMFinishes work at JojaMart (or Museum if Community Center is restored) and walks home.
6:00 PMAt home.

Saturday

TimeLocation
10:30 AMStands by the tree to the southeast of his house.
11:10 AMMoves to playing on his game by the river in front of his house.
12:30 PM-6:00 PMPlays music with Sebastian in his room.
6:00 PM-7:50 PMLeaves his bedroom with Sebastian and stands by the river in front of his house.

Birthday (if JojaMart is open and it’s raining), Rainy Day

TimeLocation
10:00 AM-3:00 PMWakes up for the day, moves around his room.
3:00 PM-5:00 PMWakes up for the day, and moves around his room.
5:00 PM-8:00 PMIn his room.

Regular Schedule

TimeLocation
10:00 AM-1:40 PMIn his room.
1:40 PM-7:00 PMLeaves his bedroom and walks to the beach by the firepit with his brother Vincent.
7:00 PMAt home.

Fall Schedule

Fall 11

TimeLocation
10:00 AM-11:30 AMIn his room.
11:30 AM-4:00 PMWalks to and waits for his appointment at the Clinic.
4:00 PMLeaves the Clinic and returns home.

Regular Schedule

TimeLocation
10:00 AM-1:20 PMIn his room.
1:20 PM-7:00 PMLeaves his bedroom walks to The Forest southwest of Leah’s Cottage.
7:00 PMReturns home.

Friday

TimeLocation
10:00 AM-12:00 PMIn his room.
12:00 PM-3:00 PMRides his skateboard in front of his house
3:00 PM-9:00 PMIn the Stardrop Saloon.

Winter Schedule

Regular Schedule

TimeLocation
10:00 AM-1:20 PMIn his room.
1:20 PM-7:00 PMLeaves his bedroom and walks to the Stardrop Saloon.
7:00 PMReturns home.

Winter 17

TimeLocation
10:00 AM-10:40 AMPlays guitar in his room.
5:00 PMAttends the Night Market.
12:00 AMGoes to bed.

Deviations

NPC schedules will sometimes change depending on the weather or how many hearts you have with them and their friends.

Day 9 & Day 23 of any season (If less than 6 hearts with both Penny & Sam)

TimeLocation
11:00 AM-4:00 PMWalks into town and stands on the bridge near the Ice Cream Stand.
4:00 PM-7:00 PMWalks to the pink tree in front of Emily and Haley’s house and plays his handheld video game.
7:00 PMReturns home.

Raining – Random choice #1

TimeLocation
10:00 AM-3:00 PMIn his room.
3:00 PM-5:00 PMPlays his handheld video game in the kitchen inside his house.
5:00 PMBack in his room.

Raining – Random choice #2

TimeLocation
10:00 AM-2:00 PMAt home.
2:00 PM-7:40 PMLeaves his bedroom and walks to The Stardrop Saloon.
7:40 PMGoes home.

All Sam’s heart events in Stardew Valley

Sam’s heart events are important events in Stardew Valley that give you more insight into his life. They happen depending on the amount of hearts you have with him, and you need to go to certain locations at certain times for them to trigger.

Sam playing music in Stardew Valley
Each NPC has special heart events you can unlock.

Here is how you can make sure you get every one of Sam’s heart events:

Two Hearts

  • Enter Sam’s house when he’s there.

Three Hearts

  • In any season except Winter, enter the beach on a sunny day between 7am and 3pm. This event only happens in Year 1.

Four Hearts

  • Enter Sam’s house when he’s there.

Six Hearts

  • On any day when it’s not raining, enter the town between noon and 4 pm.

Eight Hearts

  • Sam shows up at your doorstep between 6 am and 8 am. Only triggers if you’ve seen his two-heart event.

Ten Hearts

  • After receiving a letter from Sam, enter the town on a sunny day between 8 pm and midnight.

Fourteen Hearts

  • Part 1: Enter an upgraded farmhouse (needs to be upgraded at least twice) between 6:10 am and 5:00 pm, when Sam is inside.
  • Part 2: Three days later, enter the farmhouse between 6:10 am and 5 pm, when Sam is inside.
  • Part 3: Three days later, enter the farmhouse between 6:10 am and 5 pm, when Sam is inside.
  • Part 4: Four days later, enter the farmhouse between 6:10 am and 5 pm, when Sam is inside.

That’s everything to know about how to marry Sam! If you want to read more content like this, make sure to check out our guides list below.

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About The Author

Emily is a Games Writer at CharlieIntel. Most of the time, you can find her playing RPGs and platformers - but she enjoys engaging in the rage of Overwatch 2 or Apex Legends from time to time. Emily has a Masters in Media Studies and has been working as a journalist for over 5 years, both freelance and full-time. You can contact her at [email protected]