WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, has just announced that Nathan Simmons and Photographics is officially WeddingWire Rated 2009! WeddingWire created the annual Rated program to honor wedding professionals, like Nathan Simmons for their excellence and to help brides and grooms easily find the right wedding professionals to match their needs.

“We are excited to unveil WeddingWire Rated 2009, now in its third year. With hundreds of thousands of reviews, WeddingWire has made it easy for engaged couples to find the nation’s very best wedding professionals,” according to Sonny Ganguly, WeddingWire’s Chief Marketing Officer.  “WeddingWire Rated is an excellent way for businesses to showcase their continued success in the wedding industry.”

Nathan Simmons and Photographics has 9 reviews with an average of 5 star rating, making us eligible to hold the Rated title on the WeddingWire Network. Each review has been written by our former clients and includes detailed ratings and insightful descriptions of their experiences with our services. These reviews not only enhance our credibility, but also help differentiate our business within the WeddingWire Network.

Photographics would like to thank our past brides and grooms for taking the time to review our services on WeddingWire.

If you are a past client of Photographics and have yet to provide us with your feedback, visit reviews.weddingwire.com and review our services today.

There is also an area in front of the ballroom with plenty of space for your guests if you wanted to hold a cocktail reception while the guests wait for you to arrive,  There is also plenty of space inside the ballroom and a very nice sized dance floor.  the staff is very attentive and the food served at the wedding I attended was excellent.  Parking is free in the Hotel garage and you can visit their web site for more information:

Hilton Houston North

There is a changing room available for the bride so she doesn’t have to arrive dressed.  There are several lovely locations around Chapel Dulcinea to shoot as well so that once the ceremony is completed, you can get some fantastic bridal portraits or portraits of the bride and groom.  I love the traditional bell ringing part of the ceremony as well.

the lovely view from behind the chapel

Here is a full view of the Chapel

Here is a view form one of the other gazebos on the campus:

The view from the entrance of Chapel Dulcinea

Seattle Bride sent local writer and (semi) amateur photographer Cody Ellerd to shoot photos alongside a top wedding professional and set the record straight once and for all: Is it worth it to hire a friend or family member who’s pretty good with a camera for your wedding?

By Cody Ellerd

I consider myself a pretty good amateur photographer. I’ve taken a couple of classes, I have a nice Nikon D60 and, as a professional travel writer, I’ve even had a few of my shots make magazine covers and pages. If you didn’t budget for a professional photographer at your wedding, I’m the friend you might call to take pictures.

So when Seattle Bride sent me to the late-winter wedding of Vicky Wu and Chris Nicoll to shoot alongside Joey Hong of John & Joseph Photography, a local award-winning team of two brothers who have been shooting commercial, fashion and wedding photography for more than eight years, I was curious to see how well I could keep up with a seasoned pro.

From the moment we started shooting in the bride and grooms hotel room, I was floored. Vicky, look down at your shoulders put a gentle smile on your lips. Chris, look straight at my lens no, smile. Relax your forehead. Joeys attention to such minute detail went way beyond Say cheese and brought out the couples absolute best. He knew how to manipulate the rooms light and reflective surfaces in ways I never would have dreamed of, transforming what I thought was an unremarkable setting into a photo studio with endless possibilities.

To read more of this story and see Cody’s and Joey’s side-by-side images, visit Seattlebridemag.com

This was such a cute moment, totally unscripted, Ellerd remembers. They bumped fists and it was clear it was a little habit of theirs, one that conveyed their friendship. Joey was right there to catch it while I was fumbling with my focus ring.

“This image is so painfully inferior,” says our rouge photographer Cody Ellerd about her image. “My angle is bland while Joey’s is creative. His is crisp and perfectly exposed, while mine is washed out and grainy. Joey knew exactly how to take advantage of the sense of motion created by this cool backdrop.”

Here is another one of my “vendor interviews” to assist you in planning your wedding.  I asked Nadine Moon of “Who Made the Cake”  some questions that I thought you may ask when looking for someone to made your wedding cake or Groom’s cake.  I also had the opportunity to visit her store and her staff is very friendly and helpful and her cakes are absolutely amazing!  The detail in the flowers made them look real!  The pictures you see are from her shop so you can get a better idea of her work.  For more information you can contact her at:

Who Made the Cake
Nadine Marie Moon
1811 S. Shepherd Dr.
Houston, TX 77019
Consultations by Appointment Only
Phone: 713-528-4719
Fax: 713-522-4787

Email:   info@WhoMadeTheCake.com

1. I have friends that have offered to prepare my cake for me. What would be the difference in having them do my cake for me vs.. having you do it?

There are several important difference between someone who does cake decorating as a hobby and a professional. Most important is structure. Wedding cakes require special supports to keep them straight. The more experience someone has with wedding cake assembly, the better. This is not something you want someone experimenting with on your wedding! Second is licensing and insurance. Professional bakeries are required to be inspected by the city and have staff on hand that has passed a class in food safety. It is illegal in Texas to sell food items produced in your home because of foodborne illnesses. Many venues now require proof of your health permits and insurance before you can bring outside food/cakes into their venue!

2. Will you do a custom wedding cake, or are there a set number of designs for us to choose from?

“Who Made the Cake!” is a custom bakery. When a client comes in for a consultation, they browse through books of things we have made to get ideas, then I start sketching out concepts based on their likes/dislikes.

3. How adaptable are wedding cake designs, especially due to budget concerns?

Many of the designs brides see in magazines are quite expensive. We try to provide a range of options at different price points that capture the essence of the more expensive, trendy designs. Then the bride can select how detailed she wants it, based on her budget.

4. If I want to use fresh flowers on my cake, will you coordinate with my florist, or will I have to manage getting the flowers to you?

Fresh flowers on a cake would be done by your florist. We will give the bride cake size information, but it is up to the bride to explain to the florist how they want the flowers place. We do not recommend fresh flowers being stuck into the cake layers as the stems drain into the cake! Ultimately, sugar flowers are the safest and there is no risk of damaging your cake.

5. Can each tier be a different flavor? How much additional is that?

We occasionally have brides do a different flavor on each tier. However,while there is no additional cost, this usually results in more cake being consumed because the guest want to try several flavors. If you do this, plan on getting a slightly larger cake so you don’t run out!

6. What ingredients do you typically use? What kind of icing do you use?

We specialize in butter cream cakes and white chocolate fondant. We have a wide variety of flavors, fillings and ingredients to fit all tastes. Brides get to sample 4 of our most popular flavors when they come in for a consultation.

7& 8. How far in advance should I order?  How long before our wedding are the cakes prepared?

We suggest ordering wedding cakes a minimum of 3-6 months in advance. Because our cakes are produced fresh, to order, we do fill up. While we sometimes can fit people in on short notice, you don’t want to risk your date being a “hot” wedding date when we fill up early.

9. How long does it take to make a cake?

While the bulk of the preparation on the typical wedding cake is done the day of and day before the wedding, the time required for each cake varies significantly. We have done cakes that require over 2500 hand made sugar flowers which are gradually created over a 3 month period before the wedding!

10. Are your wedding cakes priced by the slice?  Is there an extra cost for special fillings or details?

General wedding cake designs are priced by the slice starting at $3.50 per serving for butter cream styles. There are a variety of flavors, fillings & icings that are no additional charge, as well as some specialty flavors & fillings that are extra. The price per serving varies based on the complexity of the design, and materials required to make it.

11. Will you charge extra for my design?

If your design requires intricate detailing or fondant accents, that will increase your cost.

12. Do you do deliver? How much does it cost? Will the delivery person be able to make emergency frosting or decoration repairs and arrange the cake table?

All of our cakes are delivered by one of our decorators, not a “delivery” person. We expect that some minor damage may occur in transit and they have an emergency basket with supplies necessary to handle repairs. Occasionally, there is more significant damage, and they are equipped to handle that also. Delivery is included for 3 tier or larger cakes within a 10 mile radius of the shop, during regular business hours. Other areas are an additional charge. We have delivered cakes as far as 61/2 hours away with no problem!
Our decorators will set up the cake, but do not decorate the table. Typically, the florist or the planner handle that for the bride.
Because settling can occur, and tiers can shift, we do not let customers pick up cakes larger than a 2 tier cake.

Spring Chateau

Spring Chateau is located in the Spring/Tomball area and offer several rooms depending on the size of your wedding guest list.  they also have an indoor chapel and an outdoor gazebo where you can hold your wedding ceremony.

Demer’s Banquet Hall

Demer’s Banquet Hall is located in Southwest Houston off Hwy 59 South and is perfect for intimate weddings.  The area can be used for both the ceremony and reception with a nice dance floor and area for either a DJ or a live band.  The staff at Demer’s did an excellent job of serving the bride and groom and their guest and the food was GREAT!  I was especially impressed with the wedding cake they prepared…

the wedding ceremony:

the lovely couple

The beautiful bride

I posted a pic of this cake on Twitter a few weeks ago I loved it so much!

the couples table at Demers Banquet Hall:

Ok, now I have seem some cool and unique groom’s cakes before, but you got to admit, this one is cool!

The Villa Ballroom

This was my first time seeing Unity Sand instead of Unity Candles

The groom and his men…

This was my first time seeing m&m’s with someone’s picture on them: