Wedding photographers are fond of taking post-nuptial photos on quaint Main Streets, but rarely on the commercial strip. Here's why.

Is your Facebook feed populated with photos of friends weddings? Ours too. And we've noticed that many of these photos are staged in beautiful urban environments—tree-lined main street, against the funky building mural, something downtown. Why had the photographer decided to stage their photos in these environments? And why had they decided not to stage them in front of, say, the pawn shop?
The answer isn't complicated. We all know what makes a street special. Unique buildings, lush trees, kitschy window displays, public art, hanging flower baskets, and sandwich boards all work together to create an intriguing backdrop that is worthy of playing a part in our most treasured memories. These streets are the heart and soul of our communities, and they are what people remember about our towns.
Having a little fun with Photoshop, we decided to place these newlyweds (with their forgiveness) in a few alternative environments. The results are revealing. Downtown streets are often what people remember about our communities. They speak volumes about who we are. Are our streets places for people, or places where people look out of place?
FULL STORY: Weddings on the Street

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

End Human Sacrifices to the Demanding Gods of Automobile Dependency and Sprawl
The U.S. has much higher traffic fatality rates than peer countries due to automobile dependency and sprawl. Better planning can reduce these human sacrifices.

Trump: Federal Government Won’t Pay for California HSR
The President has targeted federal funding for the California bullet train project since his first administration.

San Francisco Enhances Urban Planning Initiatives with Green Infrastructure
San Francisco incorporates green infrastructure in its city development initiatives, elevating the importance of sustainability in urban planning.

Chicago Approves Green Affordable Housing Plan
The Mayor’s plan calls for creating a nonprofit housing corporation tasked with building affordable housing that meets Green Building standards.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions