I have a 4 tier cake that is frosted with buttercream, then covered with coconut flakes, and around the middle of each tier there's a fondant ribbon that's about 2 inches wide with piping on it. Do I attach the fondant to the coconut like I would attach it to BC or fondant? Do I need to attach it immediately after applying the coconut?? I'm just now sure how to do this....any help is greatly appreciated!

Well if I were to do it I would put the fondant ribbon on and attach the coconut to the BC...if you attach coconut then the ribbon it's gonna not lay smooth...I'd try to anchor in the ribbon if possible.

BUT I'm a newbie. I may not have the best insight!

Good luck and post a picture!

hm...never done this before so I'm not sure but I'd think that you should attach the ribbon to the buttercream and then apply the coconut the remaining exposed buttercream. Seems to me that attaching it to the coconut would be a bad idea