I am new to the stacking part of cake decorating and have a question...
I understand the doweling of the cakes but I am not sure I understand HOW to stack them. What I mean is this: do you just set one cake on top of the other as easy as that? It sounded so easy, but I tried this and completely messed up the sides of my cake! I tried to repair the bottom edges but i could tell it looked a little sloppy. Any suggestions, or does it just get easier with practice??

there are a couple ways to stack your cakes depending on whether your just stacking layers or tiers. you should use seperator plates if you're stacking tiers. the plates are molded to fit pegs or tier posts. also when stacking without the raised tier look you should also use a cardboard cake board (same size as cake). It's probably best to stack when your cake is cold and the icing is firm and in place. hope I'm explaining this well. if not I think there is a more concise explanation on the wilton site. with reference to edges you should be able to touch up your edges as long as the cake is not covered in fondant. hope this helps.

Check out this article:

http://cakecentral.com/article23-Teired-Stacked-Cake-Construction.html

Thank you for your help! I think I need some practice with the stacking thing. . .it all seems WAY harder than I'm sure it really is. It just intimidates me to think of stacking whole cakes on top of each other. I think all I needed was a clear explanation! Thanks so much!

I'm doing my first stacked cake in April... I'm nervous! Should I make a practice cake the exact size as the wedding cake is going to be? I feel I should. It will give me practice. The cake will be layers 12",14',16" round. I'm also making the groom's cake. My first wedding.......... I took a lot of responsibility on with this wedding!! But I can do it!!! Any advice?

Since I had never stacked cakes in my life I decided to do a trial run before making my first one. It was a good thing I did! The reason I say that is because I don't like to be surprised. I wanted to work all the kinks out before making the final one. But mine was for a 16th birthday (and friend) so there wasn't as much pressure. Everything turned out okay but I just like to know what I am dealing with beforehand. I think if you have stacked cakes before, it shouldn't be any different. But whatever makes you less nervous! You'll do great

Hey Jenni, I'm planning on practicing my wedding cake this week. I will let you know what problems come up... hopefully none! I figure I will have to fix the icing because it's going to be hard to sit a cake down without touching the icing. I have been told I can use the help of a spatula to lay the cake on top. It will all work out! I enjoy decorating so much that I will make it work! Good luck to you too~

Don't worry you guys..you'll do just fine! It does help to do a practice one, expecially if you are doing this for the first time! It is not hard to sit one cake on top of ther other. I usually cut my cake board so that it is a smidge bigger then the cake...that way I have something to hold onto when I am putting that cake on top of the other one. Chances are you are going to put some kind of border around that cake, so you wouldn't see it anyway!

Thanks MrsMissey! I will just have to do my cake this week & get it over with! I'm only going to do 1 practice test for sure! I keep worrying myself w/ so many things. Stupid things! I know everyone who reads this has done the same thing! Haven't ya'll? Thanks for the words of encouragement!!

Okay, I found this and looked at the article (after starting another thread.)

Can I decorate my layers before I assemble?

Also, do I HAVE to use a center dowel on the cake if I use plastic rods? I am not assembling it until I get to the reception site.

Hey Smiling1809,

You can ice the cakes before stacking them. I don't think I would decorating them until there stacked. I personally would most likely mess the deco up when stacking.. but that's just me . My cake doesn't have any decorations on them just ribbon & border. I will put the ribbon & border on once the cakes are stacked because I need to cover up the part where the cake boards will possibly show. I'm making big cakes 12",14", 16" so I have to use at least 3 cake boards for support. So I will have a bigger space between each cake. I will use a center dowel~ I will need it for extra super support for sure! I will assembly once I'm at the church. I hope there is noone around so I won't be so nervous w/ them watching me! I'll be nervous enough!!! I hope I could help~ You'll do great!!!! Good luck!!