Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman married her long-time boyfriend Ian Garton on 3rd March 2020 at The Winehouse in Queenstown, New Zealand. The couple announced their engagement in June 2018 and later their wedding date on 21st February 2020. Ian Garton proposed to the 27-year-old Filipina beauty to marry him in June 2018. But the couple decided to hold onto their wedding plans so that Karen could focus on the Miss Intercontinental 2018 pageant. Miss Intercontinental 2018 pageant was held in Manila in January 2019 and Karen was the first Filipina candidate to win the title. 

The Filipina beauty adorned a low-back, figure-hugging Rosa Clara creation on her wedding day, paired with a classic tulle veil and clean updo. The diva decided to keep her look sleek and timeless and decided to slip into an elegant evening gown with a deeper neckline and thigh-high slit customized by Patricia Santos. The groom, Ian, on the other hand, wore a classic and elegant black tux for the big day.

Karen announced their engagement on her social media on 15th June 2018. She posted a picture of the two with a caption, ‘WE ARE ENGAGED! Two weeks today, the love of my life asked me to marry him... I said YES of course! Thank you for making me the happiest girl on the planet, I am so blessed to have you in my life. I love you with all my heart”.

Just a few weeks after getting engaged, the couple maximized their scheduled London trip by doing a prenup photoshoot with SweetEscape. Dressed in cool and comfy casual clothing perfect for daytime strolling, Karen and Ian looked perfectly relaxed in their photos, as they explored the city and experienced what it has to offer.

The couple has been together for almost five years but decided to take onto adventures of traveling to understand each other on a deeper level. They travelled to various countries and enjoyed their courtship period. Ian shared the whole proposal story “I had planned the proposal six months in advance and was going to pop the question in Santorini, Greece and Karen found out late at night a week before our trip so I panicked. In my undies (it was hot because the aircon broke), I rushed to get the ring, dropped down on one knee and tried to remember my lines. This all happened at 1 AM! Thankfully, she said ‘yes,’ and we both just started crying.”

Karen explained, “It was such an emotional and overwhelming night. And as much as I would have loved to get proposed to in Santorini, I must say I think I preferred how things unfolded. It’s more memorable and a story to tell our kids and grandkids. I’d also like to add that, at the end of the day, it’s not about where he pops the question, it’s the love that matters and I’m just so over the moon that I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.” 

Karen had two bachelorette parties in February, which were organized by her friends in Australia. “My belly still hurts from laughing so hard! What an incredible weekend celebrating my hens! Thank you to my beautiful girlfriends for throwing me the best bachelorette party a girl could ask for... you ladies are honestly the best,” she said in one of her posts.

Karen and Ian met through a mutual friend and three years of the persistent message and invites from Ian, Karen finally decided to go out with him. She expressed that Ian is an easy-going person, humble and extremely proactive and helpful which makes her love him more. She mentioned a time when her father passed away and Ian was always around her; encouraging her to be the best version of herself. Whereas, Ian describes Karen’s ambition to be successful in whatever field she decides to step into is very inspiring. 

Well, isn’t this a love story to remember? 

Congratulations to the newly married couple!