Got Wood?!

I actually fell in love a year and a month before I met Chris. Luckily, Chris is very understanding and has been a real sport. It all started back in 2006 when I visited my cousins during my April vacation. I arrived in San Francisco and quickly found my kindred spirit, my cousin Neil. It's not what you are thinking. He's not the one I fell in love with. Neil was the best host. He took time off from work and showed me around his part of the world. I had a wonderful time seeing the town and painting it red with his friend Kris.




We also visited my Uncle Alan and his lady friend, Valerie. I was doted on. They truly knew how to make me feel special.

We also visited my cousin Craig. Again, no, he's not the one I fell in love with... but you're close. Craig lives on Bass Lake which is close to the southern entrance for Yosemite. He helps take care of a cabin that is right on the lake. It was gorgeous. The cabin is nestled in a forest of sky scraping redwoods. It is truly my "happy place". One day, we went to Yosemite to see the big trees. It was incredible. I could not believe how massive these trees were. Part of the park was closed so we had to hike up to where the trees are. It was funny since we had laid out on the docks that morning and got sunburned. I was radiating! The further we climbed, the more snow and run-off there was. Yes, those are my cousins in shorts! When we started on or way down, I spied something in the woods that made my heart leap.









IT WAS...manzanita!! I just loved these trees. I have never seen anything like them! I love the green leaves and the twisty red wood.
Oooo.... look, the leaves are a sage/clover green!When I returned to California in February, it dawned on me. I could have both of my loves on my wedding day! I went on a search for branches. I stumbled upon Nettleton Hollow. This is an online shop that sells branches, flowers, and other materials for crafting. We loved this arrangement that they showed featuring their branches. We purchased branches and are in the process of making our own arrangements. (More on this later!)

Isn't this pretty!?! Chris says it isn't cheating. ;-)

Since our reception hall has a rustic feel to it and we both aren't huge fans of flowers, we are incorporating more and more of the "manzanitia feel" into our day. It took a while for it all to make sense to my mom. At first she was thinking I was a bit morbid wanting sticks instead of flowers. I think she gets it now!!