Downtown Joins Vows Heard Around the State

By Ed Fuentes
Published: Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at 09:41AM

the south lawn Ed Fuentes [Flickr]

June Wedding: City council president and Acting Mayor for the City Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, stands with family, friends, CD 13 staff and staff alum, on the south lawn steps of City Hall after a wedding ceremony held Tuesday morning.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — When the wedding invitation arrives in the form of a press release, the vows declaring a commitment of love and partnership become a political statement. A similar scene was repeated around the state on Monday evening, as the first wave of legal same-sex marriages began at 5:01 pm.

On a warm Tuesday morning, Downtown had its first ceremony with Shane Goldsmith and Monica Granados, a couple who met while working for Council president Eric Garcetti.

A cynic would say that with the November elections promising opposition to same sex unions, treating vows as a media event is grandstanding. At the same time, with all the celebrations around California in the last 24 hours, the opening ceremonies for what many are calling the summer of love may have only just begun.

Politics aside, the moments seen between the couple, and their families and friends on the south lawn of City Hall were not staged, but very real.


the greeting Ed Fuentes

Shane Goldsmith hugs her former boss, Garcetti, after she and bride to be Monica Granados marched together through the south entrance of City Hall.

the ring Ed Fuentes

Kelly Goldsmith, brother of Shane, served as ring bearer and jumped out of the crowd on cue.

the kiss Ed Fuentes

At 9:27am, Garcetti said "You may now both kiss the bride," after officiating over the brief civil ceremony.

the certificate Ed Fuentes

Garcetti signs the final paperwork for Mrs and Mrs Goldsmith. The same sex marriage ceremony was the first for the City of Los Angeles.

the joy Ed Fuentes

Monica Granados Goldsmith and Shane Goldsmith pose with paperwork. It's estimated that thousands of couples around the state shared vows on Tuesday.

the hellos Ed Fuentes

Later that morning, the newly married couple, along with the ring bearer, went to Pete's Bar and Grill for lunch. "We plan to just go the beach this afternoon" says one speaking for the other, showing they are clearly married.


Comments

1
Urban Bruin writes:

Great story…too bad they don’t open up City Hall for more public weddings. In San Francisco you can get married inside City Hall under its beautiful dome for only $67. To rent a similar location for photos would cost ten times that amount.

Imagine if they opened up City Hall, either the Bradley Room or under the rotunda for civil weddings once a month or weekly. That would open up the halls of government to more people and give back to the public an architectural icon.

p.s. Who wants to get married in Norwalk?

SF City Hall: http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedimages/countyclerk/Rotunda.jpg

# on Jun.18.2008 AT 02:24 PM

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