The tools we use to build websites aren't arbitrary. Each choice affects performance, reliability, and how easy it is for clients to maintain their sites. Here's the stack we rely on at Weddle Media and why it works.
Why the Stack Matters
A tech stack isn't just a list of tools — it's the foundation of every site we deliver. The right stack means fast load times, secure hosting, and a codebase clients can update without breaking things. The wrong one leads to slow sites, security vulnerabilities, and maintenance headaches. We choose tools that balance power with simplicity, so clients get professional results without needing a developer on retainer.
Webflow for Most Clients
For most marketing sites and small business websites, we use Webflow. It gives us full design control without writing custom code for every layout. Clients get a visual editor they can use to update copy and images, and the output is clean HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — no bloated page builders. Webflow handles responsive design, CMS collections for blogs and portfolios, and form submissions. For projects that need a polished site with client-editable content, it's our go-to.
Custom HTML, CSS, and JS for Performance
When performance is critical — high-traffic sites, strict Core Web Vitals requirements, or minimal dependencies — we build with custom HTML, CSS, and vanilla JavaScript. Tailwind CSS speeds up styling without the overhead of a framework. The result is lean markup, fast load times, and no React or Vue bundle to maintain. This approach works well for brochure sites, landing pages, and projects where every millisecond counts.
Shopify for E-Commerce
When a client needs to sell online, we use Shopify. It handles inventory, payments, shipping, and tax calculations out of the box. We customize the theme to match their brand and add apps only when necessary. Shopify's reliability and support make it the right choice for stores that need to focus on selling, not managing infrastructure. For hybrid projects — a marketing site plus a small store — we'll pair a custom or Webflow site with Shopify's Buy Button or a subdomain store.
Cloudflare for Hosting and CDN
Regardless of where the site is built, we put it behind Cloudflare. It acts as a CDN, caching static assets at edge locations worldwide so pages load faster for visitors everywhere. Cloudflare also provides DDoS protection, SSL, and performance optimizations like image resizing and minification. For static sites, we often host on Cloudflare Pages — fast, free, and integrated with Git. For Webflow and Shopify, we use Cloudflare as the DNS and proxy layer for added speed and security.
Development Tools
Our workflow relies on Git for version control, so every change is tracked and reversible. We use VS Code for editing and Figma for design handoff. For custom builds, we run builds locally and deploy via Git push or CI. The goal is a repeatable process that scales from a five-page site to a larger project without changing how we work.
No single stack fits every project. We match the tools to the client's goals, budget, and technical needs. The right stack is the one that delivers a fast, maintainable site without over-engineering.
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