A customer requested a present cake and she wants it offset with cascading bow ribbons down the sides. Do you think this will look good, or should I steer her towards a regular stacked present cake? Thanks!!!

When you say "offset" do you you mean "slightly askew", like a winding stairway, like this cake: http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1199535

Or do you mean square-diamond-square set-up, like this cake: http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=570903

I love the "slightly askew" set up. You are limited in the square-diamond-square set up because of the overhang. On a slightly-askew cake, you can stack a 6/8/10/12. But you can't use those cakes sizes in a square-diamond-square set up ..... a 10" cake is 10" from side to side, but it's 14" from corner to corner, so it wont' sit on a 12" cake. But they WILL fit when set slightly-askew.

Whichever way you choose to go, stack your pans on top of each other to make sure they fit ok. WIth the square-diamond-square set-up, she might have to have bigger cakes because of the overhang thing.

I did this one. It may not be completely off-set, but the top one is. Can you visualize a different bow on top with the cascading ribbons? I think it would look nice.

Or did you mean where the cakes are pushed back so that you get one corner where all the tiers line up flush, so that you end up with a "stair case" effect on the front of the cake? I really like this look, it looks really modern to me. I could not find an example with square cakes but here is an oval cake which demonstrates what I mean: (not my cake just so that is clarified.)

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1486398

I did a square one for a bridal show: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55969028@N00/3872882975/

Indydebi - You brought up some excellent points! The customer wants an 8" and 6" square cake. I never thought about the difference in corner-to-corner length. Gah! I might have to push it back like BakingGirl suggested. That way it still looks a little "different" than normal. Jammjenks - thanks for the visual. I think it would look nice.

Thanks a LOT for your help!!!