DC Wedding Officiants
serving beyond tradition
Meet Our CEO & Wedding Officiant
Starlene Joyner Burns, MSS – MD, VA, DC Wedding Officiant & Marriage Educator
Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! We’re here to ensure your ceremony, elopement, or signature signing is a seamless and unforgettable experience. Take a moment to learn more about our lead wedding officiant and how we can help make your special day truly remarkable.
About Me
I am Starlene Joyner Burns, founder SJB Ministries LLC, operating as The DC Marriage Knot, US Capitol Elopements, Free Healing USA, Starlene Moon Photography, and now Memorial Legacy Consultant and wedding officiant mentor. All my services come together under Startum, a 70ish brainchild of mine.
My advocacy work includes Equality Maryland, Stop Towing Our Cars, and Feral Cats of PG County.
I’ve been happily married to my husband for 30 years and embrace my baldness as a rite of passage. I enjoy creating art dolls that tell stories, playing with my mixed-breed CockerPoo-Beagle puppy, and spending quality time with my spouse. All of this explains my passion for weddings and my love for celebrating marriages.
Accolades
I am a proud recipient of the Brides Choice and Best of Weddings Awards for consecutive years as a DC wedding officiant. My journey as a minister and DC wedding officiant began in 2004. Since then, I have officiated over 4,500 marriage ceremonies.
I hold a degree in Theology, am ordained as a Spiritual Science minister, and am honored to serve people of all faiths, beliefs, and backgrounds.
National Marriage Equality
National Marriage Equality should be celebrated and recognized as a pivotal day of change throughout the United States. I had the honor of standing on the steps of the Supreme Court when the landmark decision was passed.
From 2004 to the win in 2012, I fought for marriage equality in Maryland through lobbying, phone banking, attending rallies and pride events, and participating in key meetings. Officiating both same-sex and traditional marriages equally is part of my divine calling. I serve all loving couples—believers and non-believers alike. If you’re looking for a leader to help you say “I Do,” call me.
Sacred Service
As a proud member of the National Spiritual Science Center Historical Society, I honor the legacy of spiritual service and cherish the opportunity to connect with those who resonate with my work. Belief systems don’t define the connection—I welcome all who are sincerely seeking a meaningful and memorable wedding experience.
While I bring a grounded, relaxed energy to every ceremony, I am also a clairsentient and sensitive to the vibrations around me. I step in with heart in hand to deliver a meaningful message on your wedding day. I share my knowledge and experience with couples who value our relationship and are ready to make that investment.
What I share here reflects where I am in my journey today—ever-evolving, just like my ministry. If this resonates with you, beautiful. If not, I still send you peace and goodwill on your path.
✨ Read our full Code of Ethics
Associate DC Wedding Officiants
All of our associates are ordained Spiritual Science ministers and are authorized by the DC Superior Court, Virginia Circuit Court, and the state of Maryland to solemnize marriages. They are also proud allies and supporters of marriage equality.
If you’re wondering why I don’t list my associate DC wedding officiants here, it’s because this isn’t a wedding officiant directory that markets officiants for DC, MD, or VA.
My associate wedding officiants assist this company when I am unavailable, ensuring that every couple receives the highest quality service.
Wedding Meetings
A discovery call is the first step in assessing your needs for a wedding officiant. After the call, you can schedule a “get acquainted” meeting, held via Google Meet, reserved for serious inquiries.
Don’t wait to book your DC wedding officiant! Call 202-253-3629 or complete our booking form.
Book Now! I’m ready to speak with you. Think of us as your nearby wedding officiants.
Photo Credits: Nikki Daskalakis (The Knot Styled Shoot 2023), Michael A. Clark, Invision Fotography, and Others
