I'm suppose to do a 12, 10, and 6 in tiered cake. I picked up everything I need and when I was on my way back home I realized that the cake plate for the 10in round was going to be the same size as the bottom layer cake, 12 in. Won't that look off, or wrong? The plate on top of the pillars being the same size as the cake underneath it? If so what should I switch to? The bottom has to stay a 12 in round. Maybe a 9 in for the middle, on an 11in plate? I haven't done any wedding cakes and wasn't stressing to much over this because the design of it is going to be pretty simple, but now this has me stressing some. I have the 8in plate for the top layer, the 6in cake, so that would end up being the same size as the middle layer cake if I take that down to an 8 in. I'm starting to confuse myself! 
I need help lol
Are there going to be columns between each tier? It sounds like it if you are going with a plate that is 2 in. larger than the cake. It will look fine. Just be sure to put the 12 in. layer on a 14 or 16 in. plate/base. That will balance everything out.
Cindy
Yes, there are going to be columns between each. I bought the silver cake base in a 14in for the 12in bottom layer. You really think it'll balance out alright? Then it will turn out fine if I stick with the 10in round for the middle layer on a 12in plate? I was just worrying that it wouldn't look as if it was going in on the way up towards the top layer enough. And I have to put artificial flowers between each tier making them hide the columns. Maybe I should learn to just say NO lol 
I think I'm stressing over this one more now because I also have a halloween 1/2 sheet cake, a "male anatomy" cake, AND wedding cookies for someone else, all wanted next Friday and Saturday on top of the wedding cake that's for next Saturday. 
At least I'm invited to the wedding 
, if I'm still standing 
It will be fine because the proportions will be the same as if you just stacked the cakes on top of each other.
I would be nervous wreck just having that many cakes to do all at one time even if one was not a wedding cake.
Take a deep breath and you will be fine. Be sure to post pictures when you recover!
Cindy
EDITED: WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! Now I am getting confused! Sorry.
Are you going to use the columns that push into the cake or the kind where you have the 'upside down' plate on top of the lower tier? If you are going to have the plate sitting on the tier below then I think you would need room around the edge for it to look right.
If you are only using the plate that the cake is sitting on with the pillars that go into the cake then you should be fine. Does that make sense?
Yes, I'm going to be using the push in pillars. Now I've got you all confused to LOL But what I decided on was: I went back to the store and bought the 9in round pan set, and then I found an 11in plate, these will be the middle tier now. So I think this will work out now, and step in a bit on the way up. It will be 6in, 9in and 12in (cakes) on 8 and 11in plates, and 14in bottom base. So the cake and the tiers will all be 3in in difference each. And only 1in difference between the plates and the cake under it, but I think the 1in difference around will give it the look I'm going for enough! How's that sound?? Thanks for the help, sorry I confused you along with myself lol
LOL! It does not take much to confuse me! I think your plan will work great. I look forward to seeing the finished cake. When are you doing it?
I have never done the cakes where you have the upside down plate sitting on top of the cake. I don't really care for that look so it did not occur to me that you might be doing that until after my second answer!
I have only done one official wedding cake and I was a nervous wreck but it turned out fine and I really enjoyed doing it.
Have a great weekend.
Cindy
I, too am confused about all of this cake plates and boards for tiered or stacked cakes. Not confused by ya'll, but my Instructor last night. I am in the Wilton Course 3 class and next Thursday is our last class. We are going to have to make either a 2-tiered or stacked cake. She was trying to explain how to do them, but I got very confused. One thing she did say was that the cakes needed to be 4 inches different in size-so I had to buy a 10" cake pan-not that I did not want that, I just didn't know there was that much difference in the size of the 2 cakes. I just figured that you could use whatever sizes you wanted-a big one and then a smaller one on top. Then I got very confused about the dowels being put in, the cake plates they sit on, and then the cardboard you have to put under the cakes. How do you get it where the cardboard will not slide off of the cake plate? Well, I guess that is one of the reasons that I am taking a cake class-to find out how to do all of this I learn better by seeing and doing it myself than by listening or reading. I guess I have to "experience" it. Anyway, any advice ya'll have would be good! 
Cassie, you can just put some icing in the middle of the cake plate before you but your cake on there and it'll hold it in place I'm the same way, I can learn a technique better if I actually see it done and do it myself. And the 4in difference in the sizes is what was causing my problem lol, the bride didn't want to change the 12in bottom tier and she wanted to keep the top a 6in! So the only thing I could finally think to do was go with a 9in for the middle. Good luck on your final cake for course III, make sure you post a pic of it for us all to see
crp7, I just checked out your cakes and they are all wonderful!! Thanks and you have a great weekend to
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