Social Events?

If you're referring to social events like birthday parties, dinner parties, dane parties, and weddings... I think TS4 has done a wonderful job! This is because making them goal-related (what can make them a bit difficult for those who just want to freestyle it) is totally optional when you are designing it after clicking on the "plan a social event" button on the phone. Even if you want to make it goal-related, it is not very difficult to fulfill the various points, since you both have plenty of time and get prizes for both silver and gold medals. During the actual events, you also hace the option of cancelling them at any time, although this may cause a slight drop in friendship levels with the guests/partygoers. Anyways, my favorite part of birthday parties in particular is that you not only get to pick a birthday sim and guests, but also a piantist (entertainer), mixologist, and chef (for a couple meals and a cake). And you get to pick the venue... house, park, museum, bar, etc. Sims even switch into their special party outfits for all these social events!
Hope that helps as a sort of rough overview ?