High School Sweethearts, Married in Montecito

Who would have thought that the combination of a chance fine-arts class together and an off-the-cuff banquet date request would, a decade later, turn into a marriage? Clearly quite clued in, a young Stephanie had an inkling…

Ben and Stephanie met when she was a freshman in high school and he was a junior. They happened to be in the same dance class, and after forming a steady friendship with each other, these high school sweethearts became absolutely indivisible. After a decade of dating, Ben proposed in Santa Barbara, a McElroy family favorite destination. 

When it came time for planning a wedding, it only made sense to host their nuptials in the same, very special city in which they got engaged. Stephanie and Ben’s wedding ceremony took place on the lawn of the ever-timeless and paradigm-of-polished, Rosewood Miramar Beach. 

Stephanie and Ben were originally wed in September of 2020, amid only their closest family and friends. This secondary celebration was meant to be just that– an opportunity to truly celebrate and make merry with the McElroys.

Stephanie added a short sleeved, sheer coverlet for their subsequent 2021 ceremony, whilst maintaining the integrity of her Mira Zwillinger sheath gown she wore on their original wedding date. The floral embroidery grazing her shoulders mirrored that of her dress. She also wore a sapphire ring given to her by Ben’s mother, a gift she received from her husband when Ben was born. The bridesmaids wore coral Shona Joy dresses, which paired perfectly with Stephanie’s dress appliques as well as the adept floral arrangements by GRO designs.

The floral color story complemented the impressive setting to perfection. With dignified peach tones and unimposing pops of pinks, all was right under the California sun. All lined up in rows, rebellious dahlias and peonies made their existences known on the dining tables. 

Stephanie’s seat at the reception was marked by a placecard she had been holding on to since her freshman year of high school. Sure enough, that off-the-cuff date request meant something so much more, and even at a very young age, that was clear to her. Over a decade after that high school banquet, the very same place card marked her seat at their wedding celebration. 

Stephanie and Ben wanted their guests to feel like they were on vacation, and with “Benny’s tinis” and the late night swim caps combined, we’d say that was well accomplished. After a raucous celebration, the McElroys rode off into the Santa Barbara sunset in style. All our best to Mr. and Mrs. McElroy!