• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE 2025 JOHN CAIN MAGAZINE

John Cain Photography  |  Dallas TX

John Cain Photography | Dallas TX

  • John Cain Photography
  • Why John Cain?
  • About
  • Services
  • Portfolio
  • The Mag
  • Blog
  • Inquire
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Weddings
    • At Home
        • A Charming Southern Garden Wedding for Mr. & Mrs. Dunn

          A Charming Southern Garden Wedding for Mr. & Mrs. Dunn

        • Mary and Preston’s Garden Party At-Home

          Mary and Preston’s Garden Party At-Home

        • An At-Home Celebration for Avery and Austin

          An At-Home Celebration for Avery and Austin

    • Ballroom
        • Forever Began in Fort Worth for Caroline & Will

          Forever Began in Fort Worth for Caroline & Will

        • Love in Bloom at the Las Colinas Resort

          Love in Bloom at the Las Colinas Resort

        • A Timeless Texas Wedding: Celebrating Ali and Alex’s Love in the Hill Country

          A Timeless Texas Wedding: Celebrating Ali and Alex’s Love in the Hill Country

    • Country Club
        • Built to Last with Mr. & Mrs. Spradley

          Built to Last with Mr. & Mrs. Spradley

        • Celebrating the Cohns at Brook Hollow Golf Club

          Celebrating the Cohns at Brook Hollow Golf Club

        • Mr. and Mrs. McKenna Married in Dallas

          Mr. and Mrs. McKenna Married in Dallas

    • Tented
        • A Colorful Ranch Wedding in Celebration of the Conolys

          A Colorful Ranch Wedding in Celebration of the Conolys

        • Lake Countryside Meets Secret Garden

          Lake Countryside Meets Secret Garden

        • The Wilsons’ Wedding Day at Arlington Hall

          The Wilsons’ Wedding Day at Arlington Hall

    • Bridal Portraits
        • Whitney’s Bridal Portraits

          Whitney’s Bridal Portraits

        • Haylie’s Dream Dress Inspired by Texas Wildflowers

          Haylie’s Dream Dress Inspired by Texas Wildflowers

        • Radiant in Reem Acra with Mrs. Butkus

          Radiant in Reem Acra with Mrs. Butkus

    • Engagement Portraits
        • Sundown on the Ranch with the Future Sartors

          Sundown on the Ranch with the Future Sartors

        • Counting Down to Wedding Day with Elizabeth & Robert

          Counting Down to Wedding Day with Elizabeth & Robert

        • Clara & Blake’s Story of Connection and Perfect Timing

          Clara & Blake’s Story of Connection and Perfect Timing

  • Destinations
    • Beaches
        • Back to the Bay Area

          Back to the Bay Area

        • Night One in Napa: The Matthews’ Rehearsal Dinner

          Night One in Napa: The Matthews’ Rehearsal Dinner

        • Caroline and Matthew’s Garden-Themed Rehearsal Dinner in California

          Caroline and Matthew’s Garden-Themed Rehearsal Dinner in California

    • Mountains
        • MADELEINE MORREN + ETHAN ELIZONDO WEDDING

          MADELEINE MORREN + ETHAN ELIZONDO WEDDING

        • A Ceremony Overlooking the Mountains of Colorado with Mr. & Mrs. Lapke

          A Ceremony Overlooking the Mountains of Colorado with Mr. & Mrs. Lapke

        • Up in the Mountains of Colorado with Mr. & Mrs. Duwe

          Up in the Mountains of Colorado with Mr. & Mrs. Duwe

    • Texas
        • ELIZABETH HUBBARD + ROBERT MEADOR WEDDING

          ELIZABETH HUBBARD + ROBERT MEADOR WEDDING

        • Wedding Takeaways We Love from The Notebook

          Wedding Takeaways We Love from The Notebook

        • MORGAN BALLENGEE + MARK JUNGMANN WEDDING

          MORGAN BALLENGEE + MARK JUNGMANN WEDDING

  • Inspiration
    • Behind The Scenes
        • Spring Cake Inspiration

          Spring Cake Inspiration

        • Get to Know Designs By Andrea

          Get to Know Designs By Andrea

        • Engagements in Florida with the future Mr. & Mrs. Hendrie

          Engagements in Florida with the future Mr. & Mrs. Hendrie

    • Fashion
        • Outfit Inspiration From Style Icon Kate Middleton

          Outfit Inspiration From Style Icon Kate Middleton

        • Outfit Inspiration From Style Icon Grace Kelly

          Outfit Inspiration From Style Icon Grace Kelly

        • Things We’re Loving: Mismatched Bridesmaids Dresses

          Things We’re Loving: Mismatched Bridesmaids Dresses

    • Registry
        • Step Inside Blue Print’s Annual Something Blue Spring Social

          Step Inside Blue Print’s Annual Something Blue Spring Social

        • Registry Items I Actually Love… and the Items I Could Have Gone Without!

          Registry Items I Actually Love… and the Items I Could Have Gone Without!

        • A Mother’s Day Gathering in the Garden with Juliska

          A Mother’s Day Gathering in the Garden with Juliska

    • Entertaining
        • A Poolside Pink Party for Haylie Jackson

          A Poolside Pink Party for Haylie Jackson

        • Spring Soireés Are Here to Stay!

          Spring Soireés Are Here to Stay!

        • Cocktails & Canapés for an Evening at the Rosewood Mansion

          Cocktails & Canapés for an Evening at the Rosewood Mansion

    • Travel
        • A Stroll through New York City with Emily and Will

          A Stroll through New York City with Emily and Will

        • A Few of Our Favorite Things in Lake Como, Italy

          A Few of Our Favorite Things in Lake Como, Italy

        • Romantic Guide to Nantucket

          Romantic Guide to Nantucket

All, Destinations, Weddings

High School Sweethearts, Married in Montecito

View Full Gallery Scroll Through Images

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!

Tags

Ballroom California Destination GRO Designs

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Reader Interactions

Comments

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Credits

  • Wedding Planner

    Tracy Davy, GRO Designs

  • Ceremony and Reception Venue

    Rosewood Miramar Beach

  • Gown Designer

    Mira Zwillinger

  • Gown Retailer

    Warren Barron

  • Bridesmaid Gowns

    Shona Joy

  • Hair and Makeup

    TEAM Hair & Makeup

  • Floral Designer

    GRO Designs

Explore More

  • PAIGE & WILLIAM’S WEDDING, PART 02
    Destinations March 21, 2025

    PAIGE & WILLIAM’S WEDDING, PART 02

  • Living La Dolce Vita with Mr. & Mrs. Sease
    Destinations September 6, 2023

    Living La Dolce Vita with Mr. & Mrs. Sease

  • Oceanside Portraits in the USVI
    Destinations August 3, 2022

    Oceanside Portraits in the USVI

  • Groom’s Cakes We Can’t Get Enough of from 2022
    Destinations March 2, 2023

    Groom’s Cakes We Can’t Get Enough of from 2022

  • A Weekend in Austin with Mr. and Mrs. Read
    Destinations June 21, 2023

    A Weekend in Austin with Mr. and Mrs. Read

  • Family Ties at The Four Seasons for Taylor and Doak
    Destinations August 18, 2021

    Family Ties at The Four Seasons for Taylor and Doak

  • A Date Night in Dallas
    Destinations February 1, 2021

    A Date Night in Dallas

  • Finally Finer and Well Worth the Wait
    Destinations July 13, 2021

    Finally Finer and Well Worth the Wait

  • Philadelphia with Mr. and Mrs. Douglas
    Destinations September 23, 2022

    Philadelphia with Mr. and Mrs. Douglas

  • Springtime in Dallas
    Destinations March 12, 2021

    Springtime in Dallas

  • Elizabeth Low & Harlan Coats
    Destinations February 15, 2023

    Elizabeth Low & Harlan Coats

  • Favorite Use of Boxwoods for the Garden Bride
    Destinations April 27, 2020

    Favorite Use of Boxwoods for the Garden Bride

@johncainphotography

Footer

Get In Touch

214.520.6771

studio@johncainphotography.com

4623 W Lovers Lane

Dallas, TX 75209

© 2020 – John Cain Photography

John Cain Photography

  • Services
  • About
  • Portfolio
  • As Seen In
  • Inquire

Blog

  • Weddings
  • Lifestyle
  • Destinations
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Spotify