Well, my 1st wedding cake in right around the corner and I'm so excited!!! 
but very nervous! 
The cake she chose is a 3-Tiered graduated cake with silk flowers. Anyway, I've never used the Wilton columns and am not sure how to set them up sturdily on the cake. 
The cake is dense so that's good and the columns seem pretty sturdy, but I'm afraid they will get bumped and fall. 
Do you put the comulms directly ON the cake? (dumb questions, but I'm very new to wedding cakes) Do you put dowels inside the columns? lol
ANY Help is Very Appreciated 
Hi there! When you said "Wilton columns", do you mean the hidden pillars? If that's what you mean, then I will tell you that they are extremely sturdy and you don't need to use any dowels with them. Just measure where the pillars need to go by placing the separator plate on the cake (to mark the four places for the pillars), and then just push the pillars down into the cake, keeping them as straight as possible. Hope this helps! Any more questions, ask away!
The label says they are called Grecian Pillars (5"). When I went to get the label, I just happened to notice the back which says to use with dowel rods and two seperator plates. Do you turn the bottom plate face down to attach the columns? (I know - blonde question )
Hmmmm. I've never used the Grecian Pillars, so I'm not going to be much help. Sorry. 
Hopefully someone else here has used them and will be able to provide some guidance. Good luck!!
The Grecian Pillars require a seperator plate on top of the bottom tier and under the top tier. Dowel the bottom tier as usual, then place a seperator plate on the bottom tier. Then place the pillars on the bottom seperator plate, and put the spikes of the top plate into the openings in the pillar. Hope that makes sense. I believe there are instructions for these pillars in the yearbook? Good luck, I'm not good at giving detailed instructions so maybe someone else can do a better job of elaborating.
Thanks for the help! I understood your directions exactly. I just have another question about the upside down seperatot plate: do you have to grease it or anything before you set it in the cake? I'm just wondering if the icing will be ok when the plates are taken off
I never do anything to my upside down plate. The icing doesn't usually stick. However, I read a tip here the other day that you can sprinkle powdered sugar on the cake before placing the plate down.
I would do whatever makes you feel comfortable.
Good luck!
Taylor
Thanks for the suggestion about pwd sgr - the cake will be outside and HOT - will the 10x help?
I just have to say that I am in awe of all of you that do wedding cakes. I think it's such an honor to be chosen to do that for someone. I don't know if I'll ever be brave enough to try one but GOOD LUCK to you on your first! I can't wait to see it when it's done!
loves2bake... when you are outside and HOT with a cake.. nothing helps! lol.. What you should do is prepare your cake and let the icing crust over completely before you attempt to place the seperator plate on the cake. Putting the powdered sugar on is optional. I have used both methods and either one works ok. Good Luck!
ckkerber, thks for the good wishes - I'm gonna need them this first time 
Gingoodies, r u sure u're talking about cake?? lol.. Good tip about the crusting b4 putting on sep. plates, is it ok to put the plates on before I get there? What I'm asking is if the frosting will be ok after leaving the plates on for that long.
Also, when/where/how do you Set It Up?
- Do I set it up outside before the guests arrive? (if so, how long will it hold up in the 95 degree weather 
)
- Do I set it up in the kitchen and take it outside? (How do I keep it secure during transport?
Ok, maybe I'm more nervous than I thought, but HELP!!!! lol
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