I am making a wedding cake for my niece.  She chose a ruffle cake (Maggie Austin) as she only wanted a small cake and then kitchen cakes to serve her 170 guests.  I had planned a 9"/6".  She calls me today and tells me the stand she is using is 17".  Will the 9" cake look silly on a stand that big?

I can make the cake any size I want (it's my wedding gift to her), just not sure if a 10"/6" will look good in that design?  Would you take it to a 3 tier?  12"/9"/6"? 

Also have a question about those ruffles.  I used 100% fondant to practice on a dummy cake Saturday.  They are rock hard today.  How do you cut them?  Won't they crumble when she cuts it at her reception?  I will have to decorate the cake the day before as I have to travel with it the day of the wedding.