Marriage Advice for CK2

[Lord Walker]

I'm playing my first game as the Count of Dublen, and I had to find a wife for my son. He asked me once, and I promised to do it. I looked for a wife but there were no noble women and only courtiers, and apparently those lower his prestige by 200. Then, he apparently got pissed that he wasn't married yet, so i clicked "I've already found the perfect person", who turned out to to be a courtier, and now he has -198 prestige. What should I have done?

[HerrPanzerCardinal]

You can find suitable marriage material outside your realm as well. Talk to any other ruler and you can arrange a marriage either with his family or any of his court as well.

Use the "Find Character" button in the bottom right of the screen, choose "search all" not just "realm" and then sort by anything useful eg. female, unmarried, your religion etc. Also keep an eye on any potential matches that could lead to future claims. I generally check out my neighbours first and then check further afield.

[Lord Laramee]

I typically check out my neighbours kids first (sounds terrible when you actually write it out). Think about arranging a betrothal between your children and theirs if you want to secure a future alliance with a potentially ally before someone else can marry them.

[Lord Walker]

Okay thanks my heir has ♥♥♥♥♥♥ prestige now but i won't do that for my next kids I guess.

[prince_of_arfon]

Also, I wouldn't worry about prestige so much when it comes to marriage, although the alliances and claims you can get through marriage can be VERY important. Worry more about her character traits and skill set. Sometimes I'll marry a courtier, even a lowborn, if she has fantastic virtues, no vices, and amazing skills. I've also started a plan of marrying geniuses whenever they don't have other negative traits to avoid, in the hopes that I can make the genius trait prominent among my rulers.