When some of the area’s talented bakers gather at Sweeney Barn on September 9 for the 2026 Brides & Weddings Cake-Off, one familiar bakery will be there in a different role. Rather than competing, Cakes by Happy Eatery is helping make the competition possible as a Cake-Off sponsor, with Victoria Wu serving as one of the judges and the Cakes by Happy Eatery team creating lunch for the wedding professionals attending the event. It is a role that makes sense for a business that understands both the skill required to create beautiful desserts and the importance of supporting other professionals in the wedding industry. Supporting the Bakers Behind the Cakes The Cake-Off gives participating bakers an unusual opportunity. They aren’t exhibiting alongside dozens of other types of wedding businesses. For this event, the bakers are the stars. Wedding professionals will …

For Engy Ghabryal of Divine Dine & Decor, a beautiful wedding cake has only done half its job if the flavor doesn’t live up to the presentation. It is a philosophy shaped by more than 30 years in five-star hospitality and a career spent thinking about how food, service, presentation, and design come together to create an experience. Ghabryal will bring that perspective to the 2026 Brides & Weddings Cake-Off on Wednesday, September 9, at Sweeney Barn in Manassas, where Divine Dine & Decor will be one of the participating bakers competing for this year’s Cake-Off honors. While the competition gives Ghabryal an opportunity to showcase her cake and dessert work, it also gives wedding professionals a chance to discover a company that approaches weddings from a broader perspective. Divine Dine & Decor brings together food, desserts, decor, and hospitality, …

When wedding professionals gather at Sweeney Barn on September 9 for the 2026 Brides & Weddings Cake-Off, Dana Henry, CTA, will bring a destination marketing perspective to the judges’ table, along with an appreciation for both beautiful presentation and exceptional flavor. Henry is Social Sales & Client Services Manager for Visit Loudoun, where her work includes group services, weddings, social events, and connecting couples with the venues, accommodations, and wedding professionals that help make Loudoun County a popular wedding destination. As part of the Cake-Off judging panel, she is looking forward to seeing what the participating bakers create. “I’m really looking forward to seeing the creativity each baker brings to the competition,” Henry said. “I love seeing the different designs, details, and decorating techniques displayed.” But presentation will only be part of the equation. “When it comes to the actual …

A wedding cake may be one of the most photographed desserts a couple will ever choose, but for the owner of Sweet Wishes Patisserie, looking beautiful is only half the job. She believes it should taste every bit as good as it looks. Sweet Wishes Patisserie will bring that philosophy to the 2026 Brides & Weddings Cake-Off on Wednesday, September 9, at Sweeney Barn in Manassas, where wedding bakers and dessert professionals will showcase their creativity for judges and members of the local wedding industry. This will be Sweet Wishes Patisserie’s first Brides & Weddings Cake-Off. Where Pastry Technique Meets Personal Celebration Sweet Wishes Patisserie grew from a passion for pastry, creativity, and creating desserts that become part of life’s most meaningful occasions. With a professional pastry background and experience in high-end hospitality, the owner wanted to build a business …

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 …

By Rebecca Barnes, Publisher, Brides & Weddings If you’ve spent any time on social media, you’ve probably heard the advice: “Charge what you’re worth.” It’s become one of the most common pieces of business advice in the wedding industry. It’s meant to build confidence and remind business owners not to undervalue themselves. I understand the intention. But after more than 30 years working alongside wedding professionals and watching how couples actually make buying decisions, I think it’s time we retire that advice. Not because your work isn’t valuable. Because your worth and your pricing are two completely different things Your worth is personal. Your pricing is strategic. Your Couples Aren’t Shopping for Your Self-Worth Every couple planning a wedding has a budget. Some know exactly what it is. Others discover it as they start collecting proposals. Either way, they aren’t …

By Rebecca Barnes, Publisher, Brides & Weddings There is a difference between education that sounds good and education that changes how you operate every single day. Wedding professionals are busy. You are serving clients, managing vendors, balancing creativity with logistics, and trying to grow profitably in a market that keeps shifting. Time away from your business has to produce a real return. That is exactly why the upcoming Wed 2 You Annual Retreat, happening March 2–5 in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, stands out. This is not a conference. This is not a lecture series. This is real-time work on your business, where strategic paths and clarity-driven time are intentionally built for wedding professionals who want stronger systems, smarter marketing, and better long-term business structure. A Small Room on Purpose The retreat is intentionally limited to eight attendees working alongside four educators. …

Every wedding tells a story — a moment in time filled with meaning, emotion, and love. What many wedding professionals overlook is that these moments can continue working for them long after the last guest leaves. By turning real celebrations into Real Wedding features on Brides & Weddings, planners, photographers, and venues can create lasting, inclusive, and collaborative marketing that benefits everyone involved. Why Real Weddings Matter A Real Wedding feature does more than show beautiful images. It highlights real love stories — the kind that inspire couples planning their own weddings and showcase the talent behind the scenes. When your work is published on Brides & Weddings, it lives online permanently. Each feature is shared across our website, social media, and newsletters — creating evergreen marketing that keeps building visibility month after month. For the couple, it’s a keepsake …