I know this is the dumbest question, but how do you do it? I've seen a few posts on here and reddit about romancing/marrying/having children with your IFs, but the option just isn't there for me?

My sim has a crush on her IF (and he has one on her as well). The only thing I can do is write him a love letter, to which he replies he feels the same, but no options for romance ever show. I tried to mess around with aging my sim up to see if it was an age thing, but alas. From teen -> adult the romance category is entirely missing from my list of interactions with him.

https://ibb.co/DzvHs7R

I'm guessing I need a specific mod for it?
The ones I have relating to romance or interactions are:
Simler90gameplaycoremod package
romanticsocials package

(i have no nraas mods btw)

I think you have to make them real for this to happen. If you build up a high relationship with the imaginary friend, the 'make real' option will appear.
https://www.carls-sims-3-guide.com/...inaryfriend.php

Damn, no way around that?
I saw this https://www.reddit.com/r/Sims3/comm...tic_with_their/ and ran with it. Looks to me like their IF is still a doll and invisible to others in the picture so i had hope lol

Ooh, I've never had it happen but that does look hopeful! What is your sim's relationship with him? Maybe you need to get his mood good first.

Kissing is as far as it goes unless you make them "real". That's all that pic shows, is kissing. No way around it as far as I know.

This person casually tells us that you are able to, while showing us the different options they have as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymaeHT50zlY&t=154s
TS 1:45 to be exact

I'm guessing this is gonna turn into a mod question bc my vanilla IF wouldn't kiss my sim to save his life rip

SOLVED/FOUND! the woohooer mod from nraas for anyone curious lmao
https://www.nraas.net/community/Woohooer

Ahh, that explains it! Thanks @silden

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! I have had so many Nraas mods in my game since day 2 of playing Sims that I completely forget aout them. I said since day 2, because on day1 I played, found NOTHING EA did actually worked , and began a search that ended at Nraas.

For me, the NRaas mods are absolutely essential. LazyDuchess' smooth patch too! The game is an absolute dream and so much fun with these mods.