Do you put the cake directly on the cake plate that the sets on the pillars or do you put it on a cake board then on the cake plate? If so, do you put the cake on the same size cake board as the cake or bigger? The top tier is suppose to go to the bride to keep so are you suppose to let them have that cake plate? Does any of this make sense??? 
~Heather
I tend to keep it on a cake circle the same size as the cake, for icing without getting the icing all over the tier plate. I'm just messy.
You can do either one, but I give the plastic cake tier, since it sits in several layers of cardboard at the bottom of the cake box I send the top tier home in. (The supports on the bottom of the plate fit into cut-out circles in the cardboard). Since the tier plate is less than $3 for a 6", it's not a huge deal to let them keep that part. I do retrieve the rest of it, though!
I put the top tier (well, all tiers really) on a cake board the same size as the tier. Then the board goes on the plate, secured with some icing. That way the top tier can be removed and boxed up for the bride without worrying about the plate.
same here.
Althought I also agree with DoniB. I've left separator plates on my drop-off cakes with instructions to ".....dont' worry about it. It's cheaper for me to buy new ones than to spend the money for gas to get them returned!"
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