1. Real Weddings

Karla & Brian: A Formal Wedding in West Linn, OR

Karla Garcia and Brian Pemberton first met as undergrads at the University of Oregon. A few years later, the two were vacationing in San Antonio. Karl

Karla Garcia and Brian Pemberton first met as undergrads at the University of Oregon. A few years later, the two were vacationing in San Antonio. Karla’s birthday was approaching, and Brian kept trying to convince her to open one of her presents a few days early. As they sat on the Riverwalk, she unwrapped her gift, which was a miniature of her beloved Cocker Spaniel. Hanging from the dog’s collar was a tag engraved with the date and a diamond ring. The Bride Karla Garcia, 24, investment representative The Groom Brian Pemberton, 26, banker The Date August 12 The two wanted to wed near Portland, where they’d moved after graduation. After looking at many country clubs and vineyards, they settled on the Oregon Golf Club. The views of the surrounding landscape were gorgeous and a perfect complement to the couple’s subtle, understated style. “I absolutely love the formal look of black and white, and we carried that throughout our entire wedding,” the bride says. “To soften it and play up the summer season, we added bright pear greens to the mix for our cake and flowers, which also blended with the outdoors perfectly.”

The Escort Cards
“I love white calla lilies, and they mirrored the satin texture of my dress,” Karla says. She carried a bouquet of them surrounded by a collar of bright green hypericum berries.
Karla and Brian chose a four-tiered white buttercream-frosted cake. Fresh white roses with just a hint of greenery adorned the confection.
For the groom and guys, the florist created boutonnieres featuring green berries and white blooms.
Karla and Brian married outdoors in the Golf Club’s Rose Garden, surrounded by mountain views. The couple worked with their officiant to create the ceremony. “We wanted to customize every word to reflect us as a couple and to make our vows words that we could really live by,” Karla says.
Karla and Brian’s monogram logo popped up on the menus as well, which were tucked into black napkins at each place setting; it was also featured on the favor boxes that sat beside the chargers. Inside the boxes were Mexican wedding cookies created from Karla’s paternal grandmother’s recipe. The couple made hundreds of the cookies, packaging them with a sticker inside the box explaining their significance.
Pomanders of white hydrangeas hung from the aisle-side chairs at Karla and Brian’s ceremony. White petals lined either side of the
“I just wanted my bridesmaids to wear a fun, black cocktail dress they could wear again,” Karla explains. She chose black silk strapless dresses by Jim Hjelm.
Karla and Brian shared their first dance to David Gray’s “The One I Love.” “Our DJ spun contemporary and ’80s hits, and everyone danced all night long,” Karla recalls.