What's the best way to do a bow on the side of a tier, but not resting on the bottom, i.e. in the middle of the side of the tier? Every time I do this, the bow either breaks, falls off, etc., and I can't seem to figure out how to get it to stay securely. I use a toothpick for support through the middle of the bow - any other suggestions?

I never use a toothpick. Just do the bow ahead of time so that it can dry and then I brush the back with a little alchohol (vodka or vanilla extract) and put it on the cake, might have to hold it there for a few seconds. That is on a fondant cake, never attatched one to a buttercream cake.

I use fondant glue when adding a fondant piece to a fondant covered cake...especially if one of the pieces has been dried (like your bow I'm assuming) and is a heavier piece. I sometimes will use a toothpick if necessary (if the piece is really heavy). I just find, for me, that using just water or alcohol doesn't adhere the decorations well enough unless the decoration I'm adding to the cake hasn't dried yet.

Melted chocolate is a great glue for holding bows. Just melt the chocolate, Use a brush and brush chocolate on back of bow, a little on cake and hold until it sets up. hth

I haven't tried melted chocolate - maybe I'll do that next time. I used RI, and some toothpicks to hold the loops too. It wasn't pretty, but it worked. The bow is too heavy to just use fondant glue or water.

Ive always used a toothpick also for buttercream cakes. It is pretty hard to get them to stay if its a larger bow

Use gumpaste for the bow - you can roll it thinner and it will weigh less. Use gum glue to attach, support with foam if neccessary, until the glue has dried.

I use melted chocolate or candy melt - it will hold quite a bit of weight on a buttercream cake. You just have to hold it til the chocolate sets - my cakes are always cold, so it doesn't take long.