Married in Saipan – A Dream Come True

Written and photographed by Katy Clements.

When I first started on my journey to teach abroad in Korea, romance was the furthest thing from my mind, but life luckily had other plans for me. I met a Canadian man and fell in love. We dated for two and half years before we decided to make it official. However, to me the marriage process seemed to be daunting.

We had to each visit our separate embassies, acquire the necessary paperwork, and then have them translated to Korean before we could apply for our marriage license. I found myself researching destination weddings that were both affordable and logical at the same time; as teachers, most of us are not hoarding massive amounts of wealth. It was not until a friend of mine talked about taking her children to the Mariana Islands that my fiancé and I researched the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

Saipan caught our attention most of all because of the variety of locations and beaches. Saipan is an American territory that is considered the largest of the Mariana Islands (the second largest is Guam). It is famous for having gorgeous tropical beaches and moderate temperatures. It was considered part of Japanese territory during World Wars I and II but was recognized as a Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands after World War II. In the 1970s, the CNMI became a U.S. territory.

Getting married far from home was a scary, yet exciting idea. The thought of taking this step together, among beaches and waves, was appealing. At the same time, arranging a legal marriage from abroad was intimidating. Quickly, I emailed a lady named Barbara Yamada whom I found via a Saipan News article. In the article, Yamada mentions that the rate of foreign weddings in Saipan has risen because the requirements have been lowered, allowing people from abroad to legally wed. Typically, both parties would have to submit proof of singleness, but in the CNMI, this requirement has been waived.

According to the mayor’s office, 619 marriages were performed in 2019 alone. Being an American territory, the thought of not having to go through a translation hurdle was appealing – not to mention I would not need to register with my embassy. Yamada was quick to reply and within a week, I was conversing with the CNMI courthouse to reserve a judge to officiate.

While a judge was being arranged, my fiancé and I discussed wanting to capture the moment in photographs. I did a quick Google search for reputable photographers on the island, and that is when I connected with Myla Deets, owner of Mycaptures Photography. Myla, who has been a photographer for almost three years, focuses her work mainly on student portraits and families, but during the peak season she takes wedding photos as well. In retrospect, I believe I chose the most attuned photographer for us. She was fun, easygoing, and encouraging.

When the time came for our portraits, we felt at home with her. She acted as our chauffeur as we traveled to our photoshoot destinations. One location was a house amongst a jungle-like terrain, and the second was a beach with rocksand. The stones and cliffs amongst the water was breathtaking, and as the sun set, I knew it was a sight I would never forget. If you are in Saipan and are looking for a photographer, I highly recommend Myla.

When I arrived in Saipan I was greeted with warmth and generosity. The staff at the airport was kind, helpful, and accommodating to my fiancé and me. We were greeted at the airport by a gentleman from our resort who was smiling and kind. From then on, life was surreal for me. The weather was warm the entire honeymoon, and luckily for us, we did not experience a drop of rain. The staff at our resort was also accommodating and welcoming.

On the day of our wedding, a staff member at the resort drove us to where we needed to go. Since we had scanned and sent everything via email, our paperwork was ready. The only thing that needed to be taken care of was the payment. We met our witnesses, Myla and Ashley Pulani, the latter creating a gorgeous flower crown for my photo-shoot, and the next few minutes were a whirlwind to me. Though our families were not there, we did not feel alone. We felt the love from our new friends, and the judge’s words were profound and intimate. I felt I had done something that not many people can say they have done – get married on a tropical island.

If you are looking for a tropical, affordable destination while in this part of the world, I want to recommend Saipan. The people were so kind to us from the moment we landed until we departed. During our honeymoon, we swam with stingray, gorged ourselves on food, and fed an array of tropical fish. We also enjoyed ourselves at the bar, and even won at gambling. If I had a choice, I would return to Saipan’s Kanoa Resort for more unforgettable experiences. I will never forget my time there, and will treasure my memories forever. If you are interested in learning more about getting married on the island of Saipan, contact Barbara Yamada at bayamada@mos.gov.gp.

THE AUTHOR

Katy Clements is an ESL teacher in Mokpo. She has been living in Korea for four years.