Yes, you read that correctly: Square Enix and Bridal Hearts are teaming up to create a real-life Final Fantasy XIV wedding service, inspired by the game’s “Eternal Bonding Ceremonies”, for couples in Japan.
These Final Fantasy XIV-themed services won’t be available for a few weeks, according to the game’s director and producer Naoki Yoshida. However, if you’re not interested in a traditional ceremony and share a passion for gaming with your fiancé that overcomes any embarrassment you might feel intoning your sacred vows in front of a technophobic grandparent, they’re certainly worth considering.
Everything Included in Your Average Final Fantasy XIV Wedding Service
For starters, both the Bride’s dress and the Groom’s tuxedo are based on in-game character models which, as you can see from the image above, aren’t half bad. While images, music, and other relevant assets from the hit MMORPG decorate the wedding venue (not to mention the delicious-looking cake) in an effort to “bring the Bonding Ceremony to life”.
The pièce de résistance, however, has to be the replica weapons. A selection of which (based on the game’s various character classes) are available for the bride and groom to carry during the proceedings. In case a heartbroken ex turns up during the “let them speak now or forever hold their peace” bit and needs to be shown the door, presumably.
Of course, these services don’t come cheap. A standard plan, seating 70 guests, will set you back a cool ¥3.5 million; that’s roughly $31,500 or £24,250. Which, isn’t really that expensive compared to the average 21st century wedding – which, let’s not forget, very rarely offer guests a choice of hors d’oeuvre based on the Final Fantasy series, or the bride and groom Swing de Chocobo as the soundtrack to their first dance.