I'm going to be making my first wedding cake. I'm having a hard time understanding how to stack it without the plates showing. I know you have to put dowels in each tier to support the next tier, but how in the world do you hide the plates under the each tier? I'm not using columns, so the tiers will be stacked directly onto each other. Any and all help is VERY welcome!!!

Thanks!

It's my understanding (and please correct me if I'm wrong everyone ) that you use the same size plates as the cake you'll be placing on them. An 8" plate for an 8" cake for example. Then, after stacking, pipe your border to hide the edge of the cake.

First off you don't want to use plastic cake plates. You want to buy the cardboard cake boards. When you place your cake on top of it...trim it back if the cake has shrunk smaller than the board. I usually leave about 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch outside the cake for the buttercream and fondant...depending how thick you want the frosting to be. This way your frosting shoudl stop where the cake board stops. When you stack on top of the other cake you won't see any boards.

You need cardboard cake boards. The plastic plates are only for Wilton's pillars.

Ok, now I'm confused. I've heard people say that all they use are plastic plates and I don't see all of their cakes w/ pillars. Am I wrong? Could someone please clarify this for me?

It would be a waste of money to just use the plastic plates...they are much more expensive and even worse you don't usually get them back...I don't know why you would use the plastic plates honestly. I only use them when I use pillars. I think everyone here at least from what I have read in the forums uses cardboard cake boards...you can do a search for "stacking" and plenty of forums should come up for you...

I usually use cardboard myself, but with my first wedding cake coming up as well, I thought I would try the plastic plates instead. Maybe it's a personal choice. I know others just include the cost of the plates in the total cost of the cake...knowing they won't get them back.

I may be steering you wrong, but I cut the boards (whether it's cardboard or 3/16" foamboard) about a 1/4" smaller in diameter than the cake that will sit on top of it. Then there is no worry of it showing at all. This way allows you to use either a small bottom border, no border, or one that is larger.

Good Luck on your cake!!

I use the wilton plastic plates and dowel sets simply because I know that my dowels and plate are level and stable, hooked together with no chance of moving. makes for easy transport ( I transport separately and stack on site) and easy stacking.

I charge a depost on parts , refunded upon return.

All I ever use is cardboard cake rounds- the same size as the cake, and I've been doing wedding cakes for a while now. If the cake layers are heavy- I just glue 2 boards together no problem, ever.
And for stacking I would reccomend that you use support, dowels or plastic straws, for the bottom layers, or you will run the risk of the cake tiers sinking into the bottom tier.

HTH
~Vicky

dupl thread ... see add'l responses under http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-5932433.html#5932433

You can also use the sps system and transport it stacked. If you pm leahs she will send you directions.

There is a great video on youtube.com called "Assembling a Wedding Cake". Good Luck!