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By Rebecca Barnes, Publisher, Brides & Weddings
There will be plenty of beautiful cakes at the 2026 Brides & Weddings Cake-Off, but someone has to make sure all that creativity is captured before everyone starts tasting. Danielle Towle of Danielle Towle Photography is returning as the Official Photographer for the 2026 Brides & Weddings Cake-Off, taking place Wednesday, September 9, at Sweeney Barn in Manassas.
For Towle, photographing the Cake-Off combines several things she loves: creative details, genuine interactions, and, of course, cake. “I mean, do we need another reason besides cake?” Towle said. “It’s so fun to see bakers showcase their work, and we get the benefit of trying so many amazing flavors!”
She also loves that no two competitors approach their creations quite the same way. “I really loved how different the cakes all have been in years past too,” she said.
What Makes a Cake Fun to Photograph?
Taste may determine what happens when the judges sit down with their forks, but Towle sees the competition from a different perspective through her camera. For her, texture and dimension can transform a cake into something especially interesting to photograph. “I love when cakes have great textures to photograph,” she said. “A plain flat cake may be delicious, but it’s kind of boring to photograph.”
She has seen cake artists use buttercream to create watercolor-style flowers and even designs that resemble crinkled paper. “Dimension and texture really make a cake fun to photograph,” Towle said. That creativity is part of what makes the Cake-Off such a visually interesting event. Each competitor has an opportunity to create something that represents their own style and skills, giving Towle a room full of details to document.
Looking for the Moments People Miss
Towle brings the same attention to detail to weddings, although some of her favorite photographs have little to do with elaborate décor or carefully planned poses. Instead, she’s watching for what happens between the scheduled moments. “There are so many in-between moments that couples don’t realize are even happening,” she said.
Those moments might include a tear running down a bride’s face as she hugs her father or a grandmother experiencing an important family celebration. “There are so many incredibly emotional and relational moments that can be missed when you aren’t looking for them,” Towle said. “I try to look for all of those moments and make sure they don’t go unnoticed.”
It is an approach that allows couples to discover pieces of their wedding day through their photographs that they may have been too busy to see themselves.
Why the Cake-Off Is Different From a Typical Networking Event
The Cake-Off is a Women’s Wedding Network event, bringing together wedding professionals from throughout the region. But Towle believes having something to experience together changes the way people connect. “Networking events can be boring, let’s be honest,” she said. “BUT something like the Cake-Off creates a shared experience together!”
Instead of simply exchanging business cards and making small talk, wedding professionals are surrounded by bakers creating, judges tasting, people comparing favorites, and plenty of conversation. “You’re not just passing around business cards or trying to make small talk,” Towle said. “It goes a step further and can create something deeper with a new vendor friend.”
And then there is still the obvious advantage. “It’s also just super fun to try all of the cakes and seeing creative people doing creative things,” she said. “It’s inspiring!”
Join Us at the 2026 Brides & Weddings Cake-Off
The 2026 Brides & Weddings Cake-Off will be held Wednesday, September 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Sweeney Barn in Manassas.
Wedding professionals are invited to attend, network, and cheer on this year’s competitors. Wedding cake artists, bakers, cupcake creators, and dessert specialists can also register to compete and put their own creativity in front of fellow wedding professionals.
And thanks to Danielle Towle Photography, the creations and moments that make this year’s Cake-Off memorable will be captured along the way.
Learn more, purchase tickets or register to compete:
https://bridesandweddings.com/womens-wedding-network/cake-off/
