Final Fantasy XIV - Ceremony of Eternal Bonding

The Ceremony of Eternal Bonding between Kenshin Tenshi and Scarlet Moon was a quiet affair. There were four of us in the congregation, watching as Kenshin and Scarlet exchanged rings, drank from chalices and posed for screenshots – not photos, because Eternal Bonding is the ingame wedding ceremony for characters in Final Fantasy XIV, the MMORPG.

The Sanctum of the Twelve

Kenshin, real name Mark, was impressed by the depth of the immersion in the experience. “One word: Amazing. The quest has a rich deep history in it that makes it special, and the places they take you really make you see the game's world for its beauty.” To even get to the ceremony, your characters have to obtain Promise Wristlets, craft or purchase the rings and visit twelve locations in the game, each one tied to one of the pantheon of gods. “We sometimes stopped in the middle of it to take in the scenery,” Mark said. “They really did a good job.”

Friends you've invited are part of your customised cutscene.

Final Fantasy XIV’s stance on weddings has been refreshing; there are no restrictions on gender or species for Eternal Bond. In fact, the only criteria you need to meet is being on each others’ friend lists ingame. Mark and Scarlet, real name Mackenzie, hope that bonding their characters will deepen their relationship. “For me, it’s a sign of connection to the people on the game, whether they be your love interest or a very dear friend," Mark said.

Of course, nothing comes for free. Final Fantasy XIV has a healthy subscription, starting at £7.69/month, and devotees wishing for a more intricate Eternal Bonding Ceremony can opt to pay for it. The Gold level, giving you options for background music, clothing, a special two-person mount and gifts to give to your guests, will set you back $20, while the Platinum level, which adds another set of clothes for the bride and different decorations for the Sanctum, clocks in at $40.

“It’s an MMO. There is going to come a time where they will ask for more money besides subscriptions,” Mark points out. “The price isn’t bad either, since even attendees get something. For stuff like marriage or extra mounts? Yeah, I think it’s fair.”

The rings can be bought or hand-crafted for the personal touch.

“I think paying for content helps to get stuff like the Eternal Bonding. I mean, it kind of gives them a reason to develop something like this,” Mackenzie adds. “I chose the standard pack, but if I could, I would have chosen a higher tier.”

By far the sweetest things, available to all tiers, are the new embrace emote, and the rings which allow you to teleport to directly in front of your partner – just right for kissing distance.

For my character, Atys, it was a chance to dress up in my smartest suit and cheer on my comrades-in-arms, people I’ve fought alongside, and welcome them into the next stage of their friendship. And of course, just like in real life, to loom somewhere at the back of wedding photos.

Atys (centre back) is scarily like me in real life...