Uber Nightmare on Wedding Day – DC War Memorial Crisis

Uber Nightmare on Wedding Day – DC War Memorial Crisis

Two wrong Uber GPS listings and a disconnected driver nearly cost me my reputation and brand.
By Rev. Starlene J. Burns

I was supposed to arrive at the D.C. War Memorial by 4:35 p.m. to officiate a wedding. I booked my Uber with time to spare. Everything should’ve gone smoothly.

But the Uber app gave me two address options for the D.C. War Memorial:
→ 900 Independence Ave SW — completely wrong
→ 1750 Independence Ave SW — not accurate, but closer

I selected 1750, knowing it would at least get me nearby.

When I booked the ride, I noticed the driver was 16 minutes away. I messaged him immediately, asking if someone closer could take the ride. No response.

Then came the twist: the driver wasn’t even using the address I selected. He followed 900 Independence Ave SW instead.

When he pulled over and said, “We’re here,” my anxiety surged. I told him this was not the correct location and that it was towards 395. At first, I thought he was going the right direction—then he turned. That’s when we were in front of a building.

He didn’t try to fix it, didn’t check for updates, didn’t ask questions. He just waited for me to tell him where to go next. If I saw two addresses in the Uber app, he had to see two addresses. I was in a full-body anxiety attack, trying to stay calm while guiding him through the streets of D.C. and frantically looking for an address for the D.C. War Memorial.

What if I’d been a tourist or didn’t know the city?

He drove slowly, detached—like this wasn’t urgent at all. Eventually, I recognized the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and told him to veer right toward Independence Avenue. Then I was dropped off in front of the D.C. War Memorial.

I arrived 10 minutes early, not 25. The ceremony happened, but not before I had time to recover from that ordeal. I tipped him—before I realized what had actually happened.

The ride that should’ve cost $35.29 ballooned to $66.72 before tip.
I was ultimately charged $83.40, including a $16 tip—given while I was still recovering from the anxiety attack.

Uber refunded part of the fare, but there’s no refund for the stress, the spiritual disruption, or the risk to my reputation.

What saved the day?

The wedding itself. A steel band and a healing touch.
As soon as I entered the space, the energy began to shift.

By the time the couple made their grand entrance and raised the music, everything transformed. It became a beautiful celebration.

It’s always a blessing to work with spiritualists.

✅ If you’re using Uber or Lyft for a D.C. War Memorial wedding:
📍 Use this address:
1900 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C.
(Intersection of 1900 Independence Ave & West Tidal Basin Drive)

💍 Planning a ceremony at the D.C. War Memorial? Learn more about Rev. SJ Burns, D.C. Wedding Officiant.