my cousin asked me at the family only baby shower for my sister last month if i would do the cupcakes for her wedding (not even engaged yet and already planning the wedding). she wants to have cupcakes ascending from the sides from the table and going around the cake (i think just at the top). has anyone seen or done this before? how could i make this work? how about cupcakes spiraling down around the cake?

how they ascend is a product of the stand used to hold them.

some examples:
http://images.google.com/images?q=cupcake%20stands&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-25,GGGL:en&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi
http://www.coolcupcakes.com/cupcake_stands.html
http://www.weddingcupcakes.org/wedding_cupcake_stands.html

as for spiral -- well doable if you can get/make a stand that spirals.

you can make your own stands too..
example: http://www.cakejournal.com/archives/how-to-make-a-cake-stand-for-cupcakes-or-mini-cakes/

and if you look int the templates gallery more ideas there on homemade.

Thanks from me to!