TEASERS // Rikki & Jeremy's Engagement Session

'Absence makes the heart grow fonder,' Rikki and Jeremy can vouch for that. This military couple has the experience, strength and humor to tackle anything life gives them. They've also got a firm grasp of how to truly live well in the Pacific Northwest.

Our session started out in their hometown of Tacoma where we visited the Glass Museum, one of their first date nights.

We then headed to the banks of the Nisqually River to showcase their love of the outdoors. Jeremy is quite the fisherman and shares the passion with is wife to be which couldn't have made for a more perfect afternoon.

From red heels to fishing waders, polished downtown to muddy river banks, dancing on bridgeways to mudding in a lifted 4x4 - the people of the Pacific Northwest are as diverse as the weather. I love it here and am so glad to share it with great folks like Rikki & Jeremy! Thanks for the wonderful afternoon and dinner too!

Head on over to Facebook to check out the rest of the teaser images from this truly Northwest session.

c.pelland doesn't really blog. anymore.

If you're visiting this blog in search of the newest new from c.pelland photography - unfortunately, you're not going to find it. Yet you will find it via Christy Pelland's Facebook - it's chalk full of the most recent weddings and adventures you'll surely enjoy!

Click on over and let's be friends.

Thanks Again Tacoma! :: Best of 2011

Wanted to extend a big THANK YOU TACOMA & The Tacoma Weekly for voting me best photographer for the second year in a row. It's a true honor!

storybooks by Ada Rosman

custom storybooks are the most popular way my clients choose to showcase their wedding experience and now they're even better! Thanks to the endlessly talented metal smith, Ada Rosman, these pieces have even more character and make the story of your love that much more special.



visit adarosman.com for more information on this amazing local artist.

Shall we? :: Let's make it Facebook Official

for the latest photo stories from c.pelland photography become friends with principal photographer, Christy Pelland. it's simple, it's fun and you probably won't regret it. heheee!



Come now, let's make it Facebook official!

samantha + matt :: teaser

last saturday, i had the pleasure of covering the wedding adventures of samantha and matt - a local (and i mean real local to me - living just down the way in Graham!) couple who's simple ceremony and private dinner party reception were SIMPLY PERFECT!





talk about a GORGEOUS group of women! and if you can believe it - they're all related! everyone of the bridesmaids were samantha's sisters and the lovely woman in red featured above - her stunning mother! i think it's safe to say we know where the girls get their looks! fabulous ladies! simply fabulous!





really, could a first look be any more perfect!?! these two are just adorable and every bit of the excitement and build up was soooo worth it!







even the wildlife couldn't get enough of these two! this lil' bugger got a bit too close though - i had to run him off!







the Wright Park Seymour Conservatory is so perfect and usually off limits to shoot in unless you have a permit (teheee or a really charming smile!) It was an ideal location for the two's very intimate vows in front of immediate family.



after the short and incredibly sweet ceremony - we took off toward the reception on Tacoma's waterfront gem, C.I. Shenanigans. we stopped off at a few spots on the way there - couldn't have asked for more perfect shooting conditions on this early spring day especially since the forecast was for solid rain!











a big thanks to Melissa Anderson of Che'mel Salon for completely rockin' out samantha and the rest of the bridal party's makeup! having perfect, photo ready makeup done by a professional is a MUST for your wedding day and Melissa is truly one of the best!







these two were an absolute delight to photograph - every part of this blissed out day was filled with the carefree, loving attitude that they exude. i can't wait to share the rest of this moment in their life with you! stay tuned my friends!

oh and if you just love teasers - my facebook friends get the advanced peek at all my weddings - so get in on the buzz and LET'S BE FRIENDS!

GLAM NIGHT :: teasers

what's a friday without a teaser!?! so i'm still not back to the routine of blogging on a daily basis but that's only because there is so much cool stuff going on right now! one of those is Stand Out Prom and all the sweet projects we've done to raise this year's scholarship funds. GLAM NIGHT Masquerade was truly a creative explosion utilizing the best makeup artists, hair stylists and other creative artists we came up with incredible looks and had every beautiful lady feelin' like the vixen she is!







don't let this dark ring leader scare you - i promise, she's quite a pleasant lady. wink wink. hahahaa.







enjoy these teasers - i've got to get back to editing the rest!

becca + chris :: celebration

there are some very special people in this world that naturally carry the ability to make others happy. the sound of their voice brings joy and the comments they share are both humorous and uplifting. miss laura thompson is one of those people - this North Dakota native has such a charm about her that draws you in and keeps you laughing.





becca and laura met their first year of college at Pacific Lutheran University where they lived in the same dorm. their were many memorable stories laura could have shared about those first few years but she chose one that truly showcased becca's heart of service. you see miss laura contracted lice that first semester of school and was sure this revelation would seal her fate as the odd one out in the dorm. as she returned from the nurse she stopped at becca's room and burst into tears telling her of her plight. becca sprang into action, calling her mother for advice and concocting a homemade cure from mayonnaise, butter and lemon. that foreseen catastrophe turned out to be an humorous exercise in floor unity as all the girls sported shower caps and killer blend for a few hours.





laura emphasized different parts of the story in her signature Fargo accent that kept the entire party in stitches yet when she got to the core of her speech those giggles turned to genuine tears of admiration for the greatest friend in her life. she opened up about all the reasons she loves becca from her constant support to her absolute heart of service. she focused on the person becca was thanks to her amazing family and the person she's grown to be due in large part to her new husband, chris. it was an intimate portrait of the most genuine person i know and it completely had me sobbing - laura's words said everything that a best friend would want to express on a day like this and more. it was truly a gift to witness.







another very unique aspect to the day was the changing of becca's sash throughout the evening. i overheard one table who finally caught on to the change exclaiming about the creativity of it and everything else that took place that day.









there are some moments that stop reality - you know they're coming, anticipate what they'll feel like, try to prepare and then without a whisp you're in them - caught up in every overwhelming memory and uncontrollable feeling. the father daughter dance is one of those - and not just for the bride but for her family too. a family experiences all of life's joys and trials together which is what makes them so rich and strong - in celebratory times like this, all those memories collide with hopes for the future and it's just too much to hold in.











becca's sisters switched up the playlists on the ipod and the party really gotta movin! there's nothing quite like a country party in the great wide open amongst the stars.







as the couple thanked their departing guests i grabbed a few of the girls and prepared the couple's suite for them. the bridal suite transformed into a rustic cabin getaway for these two thanks to many candles, flowers and their favorite tunes.

this wedding experience could not have been more perfect - oh but wait - there's more. get the full Mt. Hood Bed & Breakfast experience on monday. have a great weekend friends and if you're up for some artsy fun check out the opening of my good friend Ada Rosman's show at the Bellevue Arts Museum - i'll be up there on saturday and strongly encourage you to check it out - for more info click here www.bellevuearts.org/indulge.