The Sims 4 team dropped the heavily-anticipated trailer for its latest game pack - My Wedding Stories - mid-morning at 11AM EST. The tear-jerking, heartfelt trailer showed off many of the assets and game play features that Simmers, thanks to a leak, had expected from the wedding-themed pack.

Filled with floral finery in build-buy, slews of formal wear in CAS, beachy environs by the boatload, lots hand-built by incredible EA Creators like HeyHarrie, CatherinegYT, Icemunmun, and Simlicy, and robust wedding game play, My Wedding Stories is already pleasing Simmers everywhere.

This is what you can expect based on what we’ve learned from the trailer.

Eagle-eyed Twitter users like @JackofallGames7 quickly confirmed that not only does the game pack come with a new, Mediterranean-inspired world named Tartosa but also that the world seems divided into three distinct neighborhoods: a beachfront neighborhood, a waterfall neighborhood, and a mountainous neighborhood that looks remarkably set upon white Grecian cliffs.

The trailer confirmed a barrage of expected, more robust wedding game play. All of what was leaked earlier last week was observed in the vivid video.

In addition to the sometimes buggily frustrating wedding event in Sims 4, players will now be able to:

• ​Hold engagement dinners
• Recruit the best man and maid of honor
• Select wedding wear at a dress fitting
• Shop for flower decor
• Go cake shopping/cake tasting
• Hold a rehearsal dinner
• Choose the exact desired wedding traditions
• Walk down the aisle/Be walked down the aisle
• Include Flower Girls and Ring Bearers
• Slow dance at the reception with spouse
• Dance at the reception with family and friends, including kids
• Make speeches
• ​Cut the cake
• INVITE GUESTS TO SIT DOWN:

Perhaps even go on honeymoon with nudist joggers.

Some Simmers noted that some of the shopping features - cake tasting, flower purchasing, etc - seem to take place only at stalls , as opposed to brick-and-mortar bridal shops or bakeries.
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Most notably, perhaps, the Game Pack not only honors Western
wedding traditions but also pays homage to the rich cultures of India and China. The newly engaged can choose from a variety of wonderful wedding wear - from intricate red Sarees to Mandarin collared jackets. It even appears that players will get to mix and match the traditions they want to include! For example, players can choose to hold a “Family Gathering” a Chinese tea ceremony before the wedding ceremony.

The build buy options are what might expect for a wedding pack. It appears to come stuffed with new floral pergolas, soft sphere floor lighting, new buffet tables, new lounge chairs, sheer curtains, stained glass windows, wall decor, wall lighting, functional tea sets, and much more as demonstrated by sharp-eyed Twitter user @SimmerWill:

The new wedding cakes, as demonstrated by Sim Guru Ninja, also come with fresh wedding toppers. LilSimsie must be over the mooooooo-oooon.

​Sorry.

What are you most excited for? Talk to us on Twitter!

When I first heard that the Sims 4 developers planned to release a Carnaval-themed kit, I was overjoyed.  After all, Carnaval is the caliber of world-wide party that encompasses nearly every aspect of my unique Simming style: it celebrates and centers people of color, often highlights the exuberance of queer culture, and embraces all that is over-the-top and breathtakingly indulgent.  The unapologetic debauchery of Carnaval is a luscious luxury-experience of the senses, and I am here for every inch of it.  Dubbed “Carne Vale” or “farewell meat” by the ancient Romans, Carnaval actually originated in ancient Egypt as a ceremony that ushered in the spring season and bid the winter months goodbye.  It is the period of absolute jubilation and feasting that comes before the season of Lent, when many Christians abstain, or fast, from meat, a favored food, or a vice.
 
Sims 4’s Carnaval Streetwear Kit is a Create-a-Sim kit that toes the line between classic Sims ready-to-wear styles and the unapologetic neons, sequins, feathers, and cut-outs of Carnaval.  The kit boasts stunning party pieces in eye-pleasing ice-cream colors and knock-out neons.  It offers tight skirts, glimmering tops, quaint overalls, floral rompers, and feathered accessories all unabashedly inspired by the colors of various queer pride flags.  LGBTQ+ people and their allies will quickly recognize not only the quintessential rainbow flag but also the flags for lesbian pride, demi pride, pansexual pride, and many more. 
 
The kit comes stocked with one new nail set, two new makeups, three accessories, twelve feminine pieces, and six “masculine” pieces.  I aim to review my favorite pieces, but not all of them.  For example, I left off the watermelon shirt because, well, it’s dorky. Deal with it.
 
It should be noted that although I have divided this review into “masculine” and “feminine,” a major selling point of this kit is that each piece is designed to suit all body types.  This is a necessary and highly-requested change that the Sims team appears to whole-heartedly embrace.  By challenging the very idea of “masculinity” with their recent “Modern Menswear Kit” and creating new looks that are designed to fit all body types, the Sims looks to stay on the cutting edge of culture, fashion, and the arc of history that bends toward justice. 

​I’ll be honest. Most of the Sims in my save are masculine. I enjoy making male Sims more than perhaps any other gender, so I am always incredibly excited to get new menswear.  But, perhaps more specifically, I love menswear that retains the hyper-masculine silhouette – broad shoulders, clean lines, narrow waist  – while challenging the hyper-masculine stereotypes with flashy colors and head-turning textures. Before Carnaval Streetwear Kit (and Modern Menswear) I was beginning to grow tired of the scores of boring button-ups and formal suits. Custom content became my saving grace when I dressed my men, though I did also find immense joy in the Fashion Street Kit as well. 
 
I realize, too, that I am perhaps in the minority when it comes to my enjoyment of kits in general, but listen, I’m just that dedicated to my Black masculine Sims.  I am, ahem, perhaps part of the problem.
 
But let’s get to the meat of what I must say about the masculine looks.
 

A close second for me is the colorful mesh top.  This top, available in the many colors of the queer flag rainbow, is exactly what any self-respecting man in a pride parade should strive to wear.  It does also come in plain white and black swatches, which somehow manage to feel even sexier than the other variants, and that is saying something. Alaeryn, my main Sim, with his long and narrow torso and broad chest looks smoking in this top. 
 
There is a sequined top for men as well, and it comes in several cute colors. As much as I live for sequins, this top is just okay for me.  The sequins are certainly shiny, but the texture of the top leaves much to be desired.  Upon closer examination, the sequins appear flat and a little boring, though the shine is almost distracting enough to warrant forgiveness. Almost.
 
Another absolute winner is the half-sleeve tied-off top that comes in twelve stunning swatches.  Although this is far from a traditional masculine silhouette, it pleases me to no end. Alaeryn can’t say no to a gorgeous midriff moment, and he never will, I dare say. The top is, again, floral without being too sickeningly sweet.  Its vivid palm frond patterns and peacock adjacent feather prints are so abundantly lovely that they pair perfectly with island jewelry.  Alaeryn looks ready to sip a colorful beach drink and soak in some sun.
 
​

The last two looks I'll cover – a pair of denim overalls and some floral swimming trunks – are also very cute.  The overalls slip down the SIm’s left shoulder to offer a peek of, again, a variety of queer flag-inspired tanks. The shorts stop just above the knee and would work acceptably, if not a little unremarkably, as swimming trunks.  We got plenty of colorful swimming trunks from Island Living, and there is nothing -outside of the pretty print - that is showstopping about these shorts. These two options are adorable but not Alaeryn’s style. He prefers a swimming outfit that allows him to show off more of his juicy – er– you know what? Let’s just move on. ​

​In true Sims fashion, the women get the lion’s share of the fresh looks in Carnaval Streetwear Kit, and nearly all of them are knockouts.
 
Perhaps the winner of the entire repertoire is a sunny, beaded top, again available in many shades of the queer rainbow. It is a beautiful, skin-baring, jewel-toned work of art that is shiny and colorful and absolutely delicious to behold.
 
But the fun does not even begin to stop there. Another favorite of mine is the pride-flag crop top, a quaint little thing that thrives on bold colors.  Its form-fitting fit and pleasing design is an easy win, though I’m sure many Simmers feel more than inundated with wave upon wave of crop-tops for women.  I am inclined to agree.  It is pretty difficult to dress a more a feminine Sim more conservatively in this game, which can be frustrating, particularly when dressing elder Sims. That being said, this kit is for Carnaval, a world-wide party known for the sexy and indulgent, so I’ll let it slide this time. 

​The tight seductive skirt of the pack comes in ten different swatches.  Hip-hugging and sporting a strappy slit along the sides, the skirt is another gorgeous addition to the Sims 4 catalog, though there is nothing extraordinary about it. It’s a lovely skirt sure to inspire many a woohoo session.
 
The incredible feminine looks continue in this pack with a tutu like rainbow skirt that comes in twelve vivid swatches, a pair of very short denim shorts in ten different colors, a plain pair of shorts with an accompanying fanny pack, a head to toe elegant dress with tempting cut-outs at the waist, a beachwear outfit with vibrant peacock patterns and a long, loose cover up, and a sequined halter-top with an A-line skirt and gold, criss-crossed belts. All of these looks are good, a welcome addition to any feminine closet, and it would be difficult to pick a clear winner if not for the amazing crop-top and suspenders combo. 

​This lovely look continues the tradition of finding inspiration in the many flags of queer culture, but it adds a dreamy, almost celestial star-studded quality to the shorts, which I just love.  It is flirty, with an off-the shoulder lace up top, bright suspenders, and somewhat modest shorts in several appealing colors. 

All right, fine - here is a montage of items also included in the pack which I find - uninspiring at best: 

For me, there is not much to hate when it comes to this pack. It is bold, sexy, and just plain fun.  With its constant nod to queer culture, it is a must-have for any self-respecting, parade-loving, over-the-top Simmer. 
 
That said, I wish the Sims team would have pushed the envelope even further.  I wanted the massive, full-bodied feather costumes that I associate so closely with Carnaval. I wanted the shining beads and body paints of Mardi Gras. I wanted thigh-high strappy boots, impossibly steep heels, body glitter, and just more.
 
This pack gives me glitter and shine, but falls surprisingly short in the texture department.  As many Simmers have already noted, the fanny-pack which comes with the shorts looks flat and painted on, lacking believable dimension. The sequins are shiny but in no way 3-D, and if I’m honest, when putting a feminine Sim in the masculine clothing, the clothes changed her body composition jarringly.  Her torso became longer, her shoulders broader, as if to accommodate the masculine mesh, which, you know, isn’t really the point of unisex clothing, is it?
 
All in all, the pack is a keeper if you’re an extravagant Simmer like me. Grab it now for $4.99 on Origin.
 
Bottom line: Hot or Flop?
 
HOT
​

On January 25th, thousands of notoriously insatiable Simmers awaited word from Maxis on high.  An earlier teaser image, a splash page of colorful confetti, saturated purple, and enthused Sims, promised the Simming audience not only two new vibrant kits but also a game pack that would enhance "romantic parties."  Eagle-eyed Simmers noted quickly the wedding cakes, entwined rings, elaborate masks, and tiger imprints hidden in the confetti, and the cycle of Simming speculation began anew. 

While many Simmers clamored to uncover what romance game pack could be coming, Maxis whetted the appetites of their salivating Simmer audience with news of a fresh new kit: Carnaval Streetwear Kit. 

This Create-a-Sim kit, which will be available February 3rd, is an homage to all things glitter, sequins, neon, and fabulous. The kit not only offers apparel that one might don for the world's biggest party, but it also fits feminine and masculine frames with equal ease. Maxis collaborated with Pabllo Vittar, fresh-faced, enormously talented musician and Drag superstar, to bring this colorful kit to fruition. Each look is inspired by Pabllo herself; they are skin-baring works of mesh, sequins, and glitter. There are fun watermelon imprinted tops, bejeweled crops, rainbow blouses, gold chain belts, hip-hugging purple skirts, sky-colored lowcut halter tops, and more. In a world when we are all redefining norms and encouraging ourselves to be the most authentic we can muster, it is the right kit at the right time. 

But what even is Carnaval? Why should Simmers care about it? Why did Maxis choose this celebration to represent now and why?

Though Carnaval is most closely associated with Brazil, it is actually a world-wide event celebrated in 50 countries all over the world.  In Brazil, two million people of all shapes and sizes dress in feathers and sequins, glitter and gold, and strut down the Sambadrom alongside enormous floats.  These gigantic block parties are an experience of sound, color, and absolute joy.  In Italy, people attend masked balls and dress in decadent masquerade costumes. Carnaval is known as Mardi Gras in the United States, is celebrated with fierce abandon in Trinidad, and has become one of Quebec's largest festivals of the year too. 

Carnaval began as a pagan festival in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians feasted and made merry in order to usher out winter and celebrate the beginning of spring.  Naturally, Alexander the Great  adopted the festival for the Greeks, who passed it to Rome, who eventually infused the festival with Christian meaning. "Carne Vale" means "farewell meat" in Latin; that is, the festival became the grand party of indulgence, of meat-eating and wine-drinking, before the fastidious austerity of Lent.   This practice spread across Europe and then eventually throughout the world through colonization.  In places like Brazil, Salvador, and Trinidad, these European traditions fused with African ones to become the week-long, Afro-Latinx Carnaval we know now. 

The Carnaval Streetwear kit finds inspiration in the eye-popping fashions of Pabllo Vittar. In fact, the update that prepared players for the incoming kit folded a new radio station into base game, which features Pabllo's hit "Buzina," in Simlish.

But who is Pabllo?

Pabllo is a singing, dancing modeling drag sensation from Brazil. Effortlessly stunning, with chiseled bronzed features, a pouty mouth, and a dancer's curvaceous build, Pabllo is sweeping the world by storm with her heart-pumping Brazilian-infused dance music. Featured by both Vogue and Time Magazine as a future industry leader, Pabllo remains the sort of entertainer one can only call "authentic." Her affect is like that of a comforting sister who, before hitting the clubs for the evening, meticulously applies your concealer for you while singing your gorgeous praises.

"Do you want to show up beautiful, or do you want to be on time?" she often jokes.

This is to say nothing of Pabllo's actual singing ability, which is bursting with full-throated range. Pabllo's music captures the joy and sensuality of being uniquely authentic, a trait she espouses and exudes endlessly. She sometimes recalls growing up in Brazil as an effeminate boy who loved to sing and wear dresses. Pabllo recalls many complicated difficulties that accompanied being so deeply different, describing her experience as hard but transformative. Now, Pabllo performs before enormous crowds, belting out her infectious musical repertoire with undeniable verve.

Why should Simmers care about Carnaval or Pabllo Vittar?

The world is changing. The arc of history is bending toward justice, toward authenticity, toward self-acceptance. People, particularly young people, are questioning the restrictive roles and shame heaped upon them in the past to forge ahead, to live their lives in ways that feel good to them. 

The Sims team, through kits like Modern Menswear and Carnaval Streetwear, reflect the changing sensibilities that is their core audience.  "You make the Sims," they insist, and they mean this literally.  The Sims, almost by definition, strives to reflect what is real, what is inclusive, to represent all people. What can be more inclusive than a world-wide party? What can be more inclusive than a singing session with a drag queen pop-star? The Sims must represent all people, who, collectively, have begun to step more fully into their own authenticity. 

While glitz and glam has always been the currency of drag queens, the rest of the world has only just begun to follow their illustrious lead. 

Check out the kit February 3rd.