Public Garden Photos - permit?

mrsandmrsbins

All along I was planning on having our pictures taken in the public garden before the wedding, and today I realized I forgot to apply for a permit in time!!!  It needs to be in ten business days before the event and that would have been last friday and the wedding is on the 24th.  Soooo....I am going to try and be a renegade.For those of you who have taken wedding pics in the Public Garden, did you apply for the permit?  If not, did anyone give you a hard time or ask to see the permit?  And if they catch you without a permit what happens?  I am guessing they just ask you to stop, which would be ok, I just don't want to get a fine on my wedding day.  We took our engagement photos there without a permit, and we don't even have a wedding party, it would just be the two of us, our parents, and two siblings walking around so it wouldn't be a huge scene.With my luck, it will rain and it won't even matter, but after the minor freak out I just had about this, I know you ladies would have some advice.

angelaboston650

Hey there- we took our photos there, but we had 40 people so we did have a permit.  Nobody asked us for the permit though (however it was the same day as the Hemp Fest, so I think the police were occupied with that).I think there is a fine if they catch you without a permit, but I don't know the amount of the fine.  Your photographer might know or someone on TK.  If you don't want to risk the fine, I would say there are so many beautiful outdoor spots in the area: Beacon Hill, the mall on Commonwealth Avenue, the esplanade.There was a woman who called me to inform me about the Hemp Fest from the city and she was so helpful.  If you've already sent your payment in call them and ask for a rush order or go in person to try to resolve it?  Good luck whatever you decide!

foolforfood

I applied for a permit.  I was never stopped by cops, though I did notice a couple on horseback.  Is your photographer concerned?  S/he will receive the fine, if any.  I completely forgot about the permit until my photogs gave me a reminder during our last meeting.

jmp830

Good luck. I would not have known to do that either! Just curious, why is a permit necessary? We were thinking of doing pix in Post Office Square... is one needed there too? Thanks!

mrsandmrsbins

I just called the permitting office and they are letting me send in the application now so I won't have to be a law breaker after all. There is a list of parks you need permits for on the city hall website if you search for wedding policy. I think post office square is fine.

foolforfood

fyi - the city thinks bridal photos are serving a commercial purpose, so they impose a permit requirement.

kates2480

we got a permit just in case we used the public gardens, but decided against it for several reasons, we ended up using post office square (which is FREE), quincy market and rowes wharf, all free!If you decide to use the gardens, you should get a permit, I wouldn't want to find out the "penalty" on my wedding day.