Getting Hitched in the Sims 4: A Complete Guide to Unlocking Weddings

So, your Sims are in love, they’ve popped the question, and now you’re ready to throw the wedding of the century (or at least, a memorable one in the digital world!). But how exactly do you unlock the full wedding experience in The Sims 4? Fear not, aspiring Sim wedding planners! Unlocking weddings in The Sims 4 is less about finding a hidden key and more about understanding the game mechanics and utilizing the tools available to you. In essence, weddings in The Sims 4 are readily available from the base game, but the way you choose to celebrate that union is where the options expand. Here’s the lowdown:

• The “Get Married” Interaction: The most basic way to get your Sims married is through the “Get Married to (Sim’s Name)” interaction. Once two Sims have a high enough romance level and one has proposed (and the proposal has been accepted!), this option appears when you click on their partner. Choosing this immediately triggers a simple wedding ceremony, with your Sims exchanging vows and rings. This option has always been available without needing any Packs.

• Planning a Wedding Event (My Wedding Stories Game Pack): If you crave a more elaborate and customizable experience, the “My Wedding Stories” Game Pack is your golden ticket. Once installed, you can use the in-game calendar to “Add Wedding Event.” This gives you control over every aspect of the celebration, including:

  • Venue: Choose from a variety of locations, from your Sim’s backyard to a dedicated wedding venue.
  • Guests: Invite family, friends, and even frenemies (for a little drama, perhaps?).
  • Activities: Select wedding-themed activities like exchanging vows, cutting the cake, the first dance, throwing the bouquet, and more.
  • Attire: Dictate the dress code for your guests.
  • Food & Drinks: Hire a caterer or prepare the feast yourself!
  • Music: Set the mood with live music or a custom playlist.

• Base Game Elopement: If you don’t own the My Wedding Stories game pack, you can still have your Sims elope! Eloping is as simple as clicking on your Sims and selecting the ‘elope’ option when the relationship is romantic enough and the sims are engaged.

• Wedding Arch: In Build Mode, search for “Wedding Arch”. You can select this object and have a Sim marry at the arch. This method often works if you’re running into glitches trying to marry your Sims.

In short, the “Get Married” interaction is always unlocked, offering a spontaneous, intimate ceremony. The “My Wedding Stories” Game Pack unlocks the ability to plan a full-fledged wedding event, giving you granular control over every detail. Eloping is a quick and easy way to get married and the wedding arch allows you to marry at a specific location. Now, let’s dive into some common questions aspiring Sim wedding planners often have.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why can’t my Sims get married? The “Get Married” option is missing!

Several factors can prevent the “Get Married” option from appearing. Here’s a checklist:

1. Relationship Level: Ensure your Sims have a high enough romance level. The relationship bar needs to be nearly full and they should be in love.
2. Engagement Status: One Sim must propose to the other and the proposal must be accepted.
3. Conflicting Relationships: If your Sim has other romantic interests, they might need to “Ask to Just Be Friends” or “Break Up” with those other Sims first. The Sims world, while simulated, still values monogamy (at least until you introduce mods!).
4. Hidden Buffs: Sometimes, negative moodlets or buffs can interfere. Try having your Sims take a shower, eat, and get some sleep to clear any temporary obstacles.
5. Family Ties: Ensure that the Sims do not have familial ties that the game recognizes. Cousins cannot marry, only second cousins or more distant relatives.
6. Reset the Sims: Sometimes the game can be glitchy. Try reseting the Sims who you’re trying to marry.

How do I plan a wedding event in The Sims 4?

If you own the “My Wedding Stories” Game Pack, follow these steps:

1. Open the in-game calendar (located in the bottom left corner of the screen).
2. Click on the “Add Event” button.
3. Select “Add Wedding Event.”
4. Fill in the details: choose the happy couple, select a venue, invite guests, and choose activities, attire, food, and music.
5. Confirm the event and wait for the big day to arrive!

Where can I find wedding decorations and items in The Sims 4?

Wedding-themed items are scattered throughout the game, but here’s where to look:

• Build/Buy Mode: Search for keywords like “wedding,” “arch,” “flowers,” “cake,” and “decoration.” The “My Wedding Stories” Game Pack adds a plethora of new wedding-specific items.
• Retail Stores: If you have the “Get to Work” Expansion Pack, you can create a retail store that sells wedding supplies.
• Online: The game frequently releases new content through the Sims 4 online store where there may be some new wedding items.

Can I have a destination wedding in The Sims 4?

Absolutely! With the “My Wedding Stories” Game Pack, you can choose any lot as your wedding venue, including vacation worlds from other Expansion Packs. Imagine a beach wedding in Sulani (Island Living) or a rustic celebration in Henford-on-Bagley (Cottage Living). It’s your Sims’ day, their choice!

How do I get my Sims to wear wedding attire?

When planning a wedding event, you can specify the dress code. Choose “Formal Attire” for a traditional wedding or “Party Attire” for a more relaxed celebration. You can also use the “Plan Outfit” interaction on individual Sims to customize their wedding outfits.

Can Sims get married without living together?

Yes! Sims don’t need to live together to get married. The game allows for separate households to unite in matrimony. After the wedding, you can decide which household the newly married couple will reside in or even keep them in separate homes.

Can I have multiple weddings for the same couple?

While you can’t technically “re-marry” the same Sims, you can plan multiple wedding events to celebrate their union in different ways. Host a small, intimate ceremony for family and then throw a huge party for all their friends!

Can my Sims get divorced in The Sims 4?

The Sims 4 doesn’t have an official divorce mechanic. However, you can break up the couple and have them move out. The resulting emotional turmoil is usually enough to simulate a divorce.

Can a Sim marry two Sims?

Without mods, polygamy is not natively supported. Sims can only be officially married to one partner at a time. You can explore open relationships or cheating scenarios, but these won’t result in legal (in-game) marriages. However, there are mods such as Wicked Whims, or a hacked wedding arch that may allow for Sims to get married regardless of their current relationship status.

Can you buy a wedding cake in Sims 4?

Yes, you can buy wedding cakes. The patisserie stand is located in the Porto Luminoso neighborhood of Tartosa. It’s built into one of the shell buildings facing the big fountain with seating in the centre of town.

Can Sims go on a honeymoon?

Yes! After the wedding, players should open the phone and choose the Take a Vacation option from the Travel Category. Simmers are then taken to the World menu so that they can pick a destination for their honeymoon.

Will my Sims get married on their own?

No one will get married autonomously, but if your Sim’s friend is dating someone they might get a call about whether to accept a proposal or not.

Can you marry already married Sims?

Marriage in The Sims is an event, not a condition. So, while Sims cannot get a divorce, a Sim who has married into one family can marry out of it and into another family.

Can Sims date their siblings?

Unless there is a glitch, if a sim shows up in another sims family tree, they usually cannot have a romantic relationship.

Can sims have step parents?

Stepchildren can be adopted In The Sims 4 Growing Together. This shows that the game understands and acknowledges modern relationships, as previously stepparents could build relationships with their stepchildren and become friends, but never officially adopt them.

Weddings in The Sims 4 are what you make them. Whether you prefer a simple, spontaneous ceremony or an elaborate, meticulously planned event, the game offers the tools to bring your vision to life. So, go forth and create the perfect digital wedding for your Sims! Remember to have fun and embrace the (often unpredictable) chaos that comes with planning any virtual celebration. Perhaps then you might look to see how this all benefits the real world through organizations such as the Games Learning Society and their research into the effects of gaming. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.