Finding an Officiant Near Me Led to This Unexpected Keepsake

🎁 A Gift That Reconnected Me to My Inner Kindness

In 2015, videographer James Bonato gifted me an edited compilation of weddings I officiated. I didn’t ask for it. He didn’t have to. But he did—and it meant everything.

Watching it now brings it all back. The work. The energy. The joy. It reminded me that after all the hard times, this path I chose still matters.

I started officiating in 2004 and met James a few years later. We worked a lot of weddings together—back when people actually asked for referrals. Many of those couples found me just by typing “finding an officiant near me” into a search bar. And somehow, we all showed up at the same sacred moment.

Times have changed. But I haven’t stopped.
The good ole days? I’m still in them—just dressed a little differently.

That video didn’t just bring back memories—it helped me reconnect with the kindness within myself. It reminded me why I do this work and the importance of compassion in every ceremony.

📽️ Watch the video James Bonato created for me here.

If you’re planning a ceremony and the search bar brought you here—welcome.
I’m Rev. SJ Burns, and I still believe in meaningful, unforgettable weddings.