Lesbian Weddings - Commitment Ceremonies - Gay Weddings - Civil Unions

Commitment Ceremonies

Taking a stand for love is the beginning of showing the world who you are and the power you have for making choices. It is the building blocks of creation that joins two spirits together in this world.
My service as a wedding minister and wedding officiant, is to help you carve and shape your commitment ceremony into a reflection of your love. I will work with you to create a uniquely special celebration that demonstrates who you are.
Even if you choose not to participate in the writing of your commitment ceremony, I will create one for you that's built from your inner feelings, uniqueness, beauty, and beliefs. Either way, your ceremony will show a glimpse into your future.
Commitment Ceremonies:
Nondenominational
Non-Religious

Interfaith

Spiritual

Vow Renewal

Traveling to your wedding site is not a problem. I will come to a home, garden, park, banquet hall, country club, ballroom, hotel, suite, restaurant, yacht, etc.

Letting me know where, when, and how to get there; puts me at the right place at the right time.

Planning Suggestions

Planning a civil union is no different from planning a wedding or some other life changing event. So relax and get ready to plan your special day.

I have provided some friendly ceremony planning tips to take the mystery out of planning a commitment celebration.

Just follow this link: ceremony planning suggestions.

Changing Your Name

If changing your name is important to you, then you must file a petition with the Circuit Court in the county or city where you reside. Links for the forms are provided below:

Maryland Form

Virginia Form

Washington DC Form

If you need more information, kindly contact the Circuit Court Clerk in your jurisdiction.

Maryland

Virginia

Washington DC

Until the law changes in Maryland and Virginia for same sex couples, you may want to register your domestic partnership in Washington DC. This registration benefits DC residents and DC Government employees. However, you do not have to be a DC resident in order to register your partnership.

Domestic Partnership Registration Form

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Fees: Same Sex Celebrations

Commitment Ceremonies - Gay Weddings - Civil Unions - Lesbian Weddings

$365 to $525 (Within the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area)

$365 to $705 (Outside the DC Metro Area)

Upon booking your wedding with me, you will receive a free ceremony workbook with sample ceremonies, rituals, and lovely readings. In addition, you will receive a personalized draft ceremony, and a pre-commitment questionnaire.

The above fees are based on wedding party size, writing and revising the ceremony, traveling to and from the ceremony site, rehearsal (inclusive for medium & large weddings), wedding party direction and coordination, my time corresponding with you, officiating the ceremony, and (if applicable) a holiday ceremony fee ($60 is added to the base cost).

You may reserve your wedding date and time with a $50 nonrefundable deposit. This payment can be made by check, cash, or money order. I normally collect this fee at the conclusion of our first meeting (in person or over the phone). The balance is due 35 days before the ceremony.

Premarital coaching is available, but not required. For additional information, kindly click the coaching link below.

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Reverend Starlene Joyner Burns

Lesbian Friendly Wedding Minister and Officiant

Commitment Ceremonies, Civil Unions, or Holy Union Celebrations

Please call between

1o:00 am - 10:00 pm

to check my availability for your wedding.

202.253.3629

or complete the online form

I am, Reverend Starlene Joyner Burns, a Nondenominational - Interfaith wedding minister, wedding celebrant, wedding officiant, and the founder and director of SJB Ministries LLC and God's Center for Divine Healing. The center is dedicated to providing distant healing to those outside the Washington DC Metropolitan area.

After four consecutive years of ministerial study at the National Spiritual Science Center in Washington DC (and as part of my program), I became an ordained minister of Spiritual Science. With more than six years of ministerial experience, I am prepared for the responsibilities of an interfaith - nondenominational wedding minister.

I received further training in the administration of the holy sacraments, under the direction of a well known master administrator of the rites of passage.   Moreover; I am compassionate, ethical, and professional, and I will work hard with you to ensure that your commitment ceremony is memorable.

The territory in which I will be offering my services are: parts of Southern Maryland that includes; Prince Georges County, Calvert County, St. Mary's County, and Charles County.

In addition, I will extend my outreach to; Montgomery County, MD; Howard County, MD; Anne Arundel County, MD; Frederick County, MD; Carroll County, MD; Baltimore County, MD; Baltimore City, MD; Arlington County, VA, Fairfax County, VA; and Washington, DC.

For a list of recommended vendors, please visit the vendors page. The vendors listed on that page are only suggestions to simplify your task. Please feel free to select your own vendor.

If you would like to read my 5 star reviews, click the link.

Meeting (Initial Consultation)

Once we have agreed on a meeting date and time; kindly confirm it with me the day before or the morning (after 10:00 am) of our meeting. This way I will know that you are sincere about your wedding plans and meeting with me. If I do not hear from you, I will assume that you are no longer interested in my services.

All meetings are held in my home in Bowie, MD. Kindly do not bring kids to this meeting. Children can be very distracting for this type of business discussion. Try to consider this a sacred time for you and your fianc�.

If you have no choice but to bring your children, the meeting will be held at Panera Bread in the Vista Gardens Marketplace: 10531 Martin Luther King Jr. Highway, Bowie, MD 20720. The shopping center is adjacent to my community.

Click here for directions to my home office.

If you would like to reserve my services at the end of our meeting, you will need a valid photo ID and a $50 cash deposit.

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Sometimes I am asked, "Why do you do this" (perform commitment weddings)?

During my ministerial freshman year, my class composition was 60 percent homosexual and 40 percent heterosexual. My gay and lesbian classmates shared their stories of pain, frustration, and the psychological impact of being mistreated (for expressing their God given free-will) by those they loved and respected. These people included and are not limited to their family, friends, church leaders, and others. Their words echoed throughout my body, touching every fiber of me that stands strong against passive and aggressive acts used to control another.

My African American history has shown me the sadness of discrimination. I believe in equality for all. Therefore, I support same-sex partners to marry and have equal protection and rights under the laws of our nation and state.

Civil marriage is a human right for those wanting to celebrate their love in building a life-time partnership of equality. One day it will no longer be a desire, fight, or dream for gay and lesbian couples; but a reality.

Sincerely,

Gay and Lesbian Friendly Wedding Minister and Officiant

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Firefly

From the struggle of darkness,

comes the birth of a beautiful light.

That light is the light of the soul

illuminating the path of determination.

It's your light of righteousness, to be who you are.

When mankind holds himself hostage

to hate, judgment, and discrimination;

he loses the battle of love and being godly.

Therefore, he plunges himself into the depths of darkness,

shackled by his own ignorance.

Those who discriminate, do not know God.

Those who hate, do not know love.

Those who seek to hurt others

by their actions, words, and deeds; do not know truth.

For God is love, truth, and harmlessness.

An inspired writing by:

(Written after I officiated the commitment ceremony of Ione and Nicole on February 24, 2007.)

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�Rev. Starlene Joyner Burns, Domestic Partnership Celebrations, Commitment Wedding, Lesbian Weddings, Gay Weddings, Commitment Ceremony, Commitment Ceremonies, Holy Union Celebration, Commitment Weddings, Civil Unions, Same Sex Ceremonies, Same Sex Weddings, Wedding Officiants, Wedding Ministers, Gay Friendly Ministers, Gay Marriages, Gay Rights to Marry, Freedom to Marry