We’ve all walked by Government Center in Boston and seen that rather dreary, amorphous heap of concrete known as City Hall Plaza. It’s an eyesore for the skyline, an antagonistic example of Boston’s architectural beauty that strikingly clashes with The Hub’s historical achievements ranging from early days of the colonial settlers, to the Beacon Hill brownstones of the Boston Brahmins, to the developmental boom of the once decrepit Seaport. But a new municipal campaign, dubbed “Married in Boston,” is urging people to find the underlying beauty within, even if it is referring to the downtown monstrosity that is City Hall.
The Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM) is the mastermind behind the new project, hoping to achieve its founding principles of “collaborating with constituents, focusing on the basics of government, and pushing for bolder ideas.”
A joint initiative by Boston and Philadelphia, MONUM is all about reinvigorating tired city projects and buildings with the flare of innovation. And there’s no better way for them to ignite this innovative vitalization process than rebranding Boston’s City Hall, a building atypical of Boston’s avant-garde cityscape and character, as a warm venue where couples can kickstart their loving lives as newlyweds.
One Thing That Makes City Hall Special from City of Boston on Vimeo.
A video clip recently released by MONUM (see: above) urges Bostonians, neighbors, and tourists alike to look past the monolithic structure, one where “You come here to pay your taxes… You come to come here to pay your parking tickets… You come here to go to meetings.” But up on the sixth floor, “Something incredibly beautiful happens.”
MONUM has begun setting up makeshift photo-booths to capture the family, friends, and moments of when a couple ties the knot at City Hall. While the video does share a few of these intimacies, MONUM will also be documenting their snapshots on a new Tumblr dedicated solely to Married in Boston.
According to the site, “Starting on the ninth anniversary of marriage equality, we set up a backdrop, some lights, and a camera. And everyone — the couples, the families, the folks in the City Clerk’s office — was excited with the results.” It’s unclear at this point, though, how long the campaign will continue or whether or not it will be a mainstay to accompany all City Hall weddings, but it certainly adds a feeling of affection and hospitality to the ever-cold looking structure.
Would you ever get married at Boston’s City Hall? If so, you can find all of the necessary information, licensing, and paperwork online here. Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
