Welcome Dinner

Old County Inn

Welcome Cocktail Hour

The Cabins on Strawberry Hill

Camp Mann

Cabins on Strawberry Hill

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Our Wedding

Julia moved to Phoenix in the summer of 2019 from Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a job opportunity. Little did she know, her future husband was on a similar journey. Reuben had just moved from Weston, Florida, eager to find a new community and explore Arizona’s outdoors. In 2020, Reuben attended a Moishe House Shabbat and met people who shared his love for nature and community. One of them happened to be a close college friend of Julia’s. After a group hike, that friend invited Reuben to join them for some post-hike refreshments, where Julia happened to be. Reuben walked up to the table, saw Julia, and instantly knew he’d be asking for her number by the end of the day. Julia, on the other hand, saw a quirky guy wearing bright pink short shorts and a neon yellow boat shirt — not exactly love at first sight. But she had a feeling they’d become great friends. And they did! They quickly became inseparable: working remotely from coffee shops, arriving at every party together, and finding any excuse to spend time with one another. Eventually, Julia let it slip that she had feelings for Reuben — and his excitement was palpable. They became official on the spot… and the rest is history.

How We Met

A little over two years into their relationship, Reuben knew he was ready to ask Julia to be his wife. In 2024, while visiting Julia’s family in Wisconsin, the two rented a cozy cabin on Lake Koshkonong. With the ring in his pocket all week, Reuben waited for the perfect moment to pop the question. As the lakefront began to freeze over, he realized his window for a picture-perfect proposal was closing. Reuben set up a tripod and asked Julia to take some goofy photos by the lake. Though not thrilled by the freezing wind, she bundled up in her winter coat — always happy to humor Reuben. Moments later, to Julia’s surprise, Reuben was down on one knee, asking her to spend the rest of their lives together.

The Proposal

Our Story

Photos

Officiant

Julia met David during their sophomore year of college. After they both moved to Phoenix, they became especially close during COVID, exploring Arizona together while in the same quarantine bubble. Reuben and David connected at a Moishe House Shabbat dinner over their shared love of adventure and the two quickly hit it off.  Their relationship grew over the years with Reuben even serving as the Ketubah signer at David’s recent wedding. David is an integral part of Julia and Reuben’s story since he’s the one who introduced them!  They couldn’t imagine anyone more perfect to marry them on their wedding day.

David Wolfe

Bridesmaids

Sam and Julia bonded instantly as the Midwesterners of our friend group after both moving to the Phoenix area in 2019. They’ve shared countless dinner parties and baked goods over the years, always finding an excuse to gather around good food. Their shared love of K-pop and friendly F1 debates keep things lively and fun. She’s the person Julia turns to for advice, laughter, and celebrating life’s little joys, and she can’t imagine this day without her.

Samantha Greeley

Julia met Maria in 2018 when we were both finishing up college and working the closing shifts together at Stone Creek Coffee in Milwaukee. Those late nights sparked a friendship that’s only grown stronger over the years. Even after Julia moved to Phoenix, they stayed close, Facetiming every week through quarantine and beyond. Julia is so grateful to have Maria by her side on this special day.

Maria Brondino

Lauren is Julia's sister, so they've basically been stuck with each other from the start. Growing up, they did just about everything together including dance, volleyball, band, and colorguard. As adults, they even traveled to Ireland together, which is still one of Julia's favorite adventures. These days, we both share a love for reading and spending time outdoors. Lauren has been one of Julia's closest companions through every stage of life, and she couldn’t imagine this day without her.

Lauren Kurtzweil

Ilyssa and Julia met about a year before she started dating Reuben at a popular brewery downtown Phoenix. At some point in the night, Julia stepped away and Ilyssa turned to Reuben and said, ‘She’s going to be your future wife’. Clearly, she called it from the start! From that first day, Julia and Ilyssa instantly clicked and have only grown closer ever since. Ilyssa has such a fun, caring energy, and Julia feels so lucky to be officially gaining her as a baby sister.

Ilyssa Mann

Groomsmen

Reuben's brother and lifelong partner-in-adventure, Matthew and Reuben have shared marathons, ski trips, nerdy pursuits, and countless coffee runs. Though their lives are different, their bond is unshakable. Matthew's dedication to growth and mindfulness over the past few years has been inspiring, and Reuben is proud to have him by his side on the big day.

Matthew Mann

Matteo and Reuben met in 2017 through Theta Tau at UF, where Matteo was Reuben's “Big”.  Reuben later had the honor of being Matteo's best man. From ski trips abroad to board game nights, Matteo has always put the "quality" in "quality time". Matteo has always been a source of wisdom and inspiration to Reuben, reminding him to look for the best in every situation.

Matteo Simeoni

Tim and Reuben met in 2022 through work, and from day one Tim's been down for every adventure, no matter how daunting. From 10-day hikes in Europe to routine runs in Arizona, Tim brings his quirky characters, endless humor, and a love for deep discussions about anything life has to offer. He’s a friend Reuben can always count on to be there and make life more fun.

Tim Ewing

Kyle and Reuben met as interns in 2018, and their friendship really took off years later at a Moishe House Shabbat. From hikes, camping trips, and rock climbing to board games and movie nights, Kyle's always down to hang out. Caring, fun, and never afraid to be the butt of a joke, Kyle was one of the first to find out about Julia and Reuben dating. He jokingly called our early relationship the “worst kept secret".

Kyle Duckering

Thomas and Reuben met through Theta Tau at UF in 2017 and bonded over their shared love of the outdoors. He visited Reuben in Arizona several times while still in college, and eventually joined Honeywell and moved to Phoenix. Since then, they've shared countless adventures, from backpacking to crafting and baking days. Thomas always finds ways to crack Reuben up and make every activity filled with laughter.

Thomas Flament

Wedding Party

Take a look at our Pinterest board for some inspiration.https://pin.it/1nlLTC8dj

Q + A

Lodging at the Cabins on Strawberry Hill

Our wedding will be held at the beautiful Cabins on Strawberry Hill, which offers onsite lodging. While we would love to host everyone on site, the cabins do not have enough space for all of our guests. To ensure a fair balance between both sides of our families and friends, Julia and Reuben will be sharing a private link with those invited to stay onsite. If you’re not lodging at the cabins, please know it’s not because we don’t want you there — we simply want to make the booking process easy and smooth for everyone. For guests staying offsite, here are some nearby accommodations you can book:

Set along a remote stretch of State Route 87, this relaxed, country-style hotel with a colorful exterior is a 10 minute walk from our wedding venue. This venue offers a variety of lodging options such as hotel rooms, cottages, cabins, and airstreams.

The Strawberry Inn

Located only a 3-minute drive from the wedding venue. This hotel in Pine, AZ offers 8 luxury hotel rooms with king and queen beds. Book early before the sell out if interested!

Lodge at 5600

Located in Payson, a charming town just a 25-minute drive from our wedding venue. Surrounded by the beauty of the Mogollon Rim, it offers convenient lodging, restaurants, and local shops — perfect for guests who want a comfortable base while still being close to Strawberry Hill.

Best Western Inn of Payson

Airbnb Options

Strawberry, AZ offers plenty of Airbnb options just a short drive from our venue. Whether you’re traveling with a large group or a small party, there are homes to fit every need. Staying in Strawberry makes it easy to enjoy the wedding festivities and the beautiful surroundings.

Transportation

Flying into Arizona

For our guests flying from out of state, please see the list of airports in the area below. The bride and groom recommend flying into Phoenix Sky Harbor for the most flight options. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX): ~2.5-hour drive to Strawberry Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG): ~1.5-hour drive to Strawberry Prescott Regional Airport (PRC): ~2-hour drive to Strawberry

Travelling to Strawberry

Since there’s no public transportation to Strawberry, we recommend that guests rent a car to get to the venue and explore the area. See the bride and groom's recommendation below: PHX Airport Rental Agencies: Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, and Budget all have convenient counters at Phoenix Sky Harbor for easy pickup and drop-off.Turo: Peer-to-peer car rental platform that can be more budget-friendly; be sure to read reviews carefully before booking.Private Shuttle Services: Guests can also arrange private shuttle rides directly from Phoenix Sky Harbor to Strawberry. Reuben and Julia recommend this option for anyone who doesn’t feel fully comfortable driving on winding mountain roads. One such service is Airport Shuttle of Phoenix, which provides 24/7 door-to-door, non-stop service. Rates and travel times vary based on pickup location and number of passengers. (https://airportshuttleofphoenix.com/) Parking at the venue is limited to 40 spots, so carpooling is encouraged whenever possible. Reuben and Julia are more than happy to help coordinate rides and make sure everyone arrives safely and comfortably.

Julia & Reuben

Julia & Reuben

Q + A

What is the Dress Code for the Wedding Day?

What will the weather be like in Strawberry, AZ?

What time should I arrive on Wedding Day?

Will this be a religious ceremony?

Are Kids Invited?

Can I bring a plus one?