Dblade has a point with how FFXI's recent improvements could have come far earlier, but I disagree on how it could have affected the game quality - the new content that has come out so far has added a great deal of variety to a game that was originally an incredulous grindfest. SE has done a good job making the game accessible to a wider audience, and that's a win-win situation for the developer - not only does that make it easier for them to earn more long-term subscribers, but it also provides those subscribers with ways to not want to cancel that subscription.

As for the new wedding support service, what I'm most interested in is how Square-Enix will cater to two unique subsets of matrimony - those who are interested in having a casual wedding (even less formal than the Bastokan weddings provided by the current service) with no dress code, acting more like a giant reception than a wedding ceremony, and same-sex marriages, which have been disallowed under the previous system (which has probably provided awkward moments for those male players who find out their Mithra bride is actually a dude :P).

In addition, having the service being separated from an ingrained system allows for far more creative ceremonies and receptions; why not have a San d'Orian military wedding outside the East Ronfaure Cavernous Maw, partake in a campaign battle after the ceremony, and then follow it all up with a private Ballista match as part of the reception? Now that SE is having the players run the events themselves, the possibilities for ceremonies even more memorable than those that the game has offered over the past few years are innumerable.