I'm a hobby baker-asked to  make this cake for a friend's wedding but I cannot figure out the width/ht of this cake. Also, she wants the bottom fake but all buttercream. Ok to cover the Styrofoam with buttercream? Any advice PLEASE help! 

That looks like a 4-6-8-10" tiered cake to me. Since I have only ever made one Styrofoam dummy, I don't think I will be much help giving advice on whether or not BC is kosher to use. My gut says that it should work just fine but I could be wrong. 

How tall do you think each tier is?

I would say each tier is about 6" high.  So probably a 3 layered cake for each tier.

To get an idea of the final look you want you can always go to a craft store and stack Styrofoam rounds.

good idea! thx for everyone's help..

Can I buttercream the Styrofoam?

yes no problem

any special prep?

no -- just ice like you would a cake -- make sure you attach the icing well -- press down good -- easy peasy -- no worries

@K8memphis-----thx! sooo much--and thx everyone for taking the time out of your busy day!

you're so welcome -- can't wait to see your beautiful cake

Overall it reallty doesn't make much different exactly what size the pictured cake is.  What you need to figure is how many servings the client needs to serve, then make up whatever size tiers you need to get that many. 

To me they all look like 4" tall tiers :)  Notice how much taller that top tier looks compared to the other?  it's probbly  a 6" x4" tier.   Notice the top tier in this one:  https://www.cakecentral.com/gallery/i/2158946/fall-leaves-wedding   Then take a look at this one:  https://www.cakecentral.com/gallery/i/1285669/small-rounds-for-wedding   Notice  the difference......this one is 6"x6".  

I agree that is doesn't matter the size of the pictured cake.  Any configuration with the same proportion will give the same effect.  The tiers appear 4" tall to me, as well, with a 2" difference in diameter from tier to tier - 10", 8", 6" and 4".

those are the sizes I thought as well..but wanted you experts to validate it..that and the height..i think it's 4" ..like [2] 2 inch layers..it's for 60 ppl

@kakeladi--I think the second photo is a close match--although I don't think it's quite 6" though..

@freckles---on second thought, I think they are 3 layers high--definitely more than 2..thx!

........... the second photo is a close match--although I don't think it's quite 6" though....

Ha, Ha,  I made it so I know it is 6" tall :)

Sorry..I meant I don't think my photo cake is 6in..lol.. Sorry about the confusion there.

@ freckles..I went by Hobby Lobby and stacked the dummies until I got the look I wanted.. ended up with a 12 [styrofoam], 10, 8, 6..3 in high tiers.   What do y'all think? 

Those are 3  6in pans on top.

I think that is pretty darn close in size to the original photo.  I am definitely a visual person so being able to stack/layout a cake before making it is always helpful to me, especially when it comes to height.

i'm getting lost here a bit -- I think those tiers are the same height -- just looks taller because the circumference is smaller

me too...I felt much better having "seen" the "prototype"  :-). I didn't want it to look stubby, like disproportionate..if you know what I mean.. thx so much freckles0829 for the idea....and thx again to everyone..I know your time is valuable!!

Don't kill me but...

--how much buttercream do you think I would need to cover the entire thing considering the design? Rose Levy Berenbaum's chart said 15 cups

--what's the best way to color buttercream..just add to the final product?

--how many coats would you do?

--she wants the 8" layer to be blue velvet and the rest white--what filling would you use for blue velvet??? what's a good one for white? Bride has no preference

yep, you're right..they are the same height, 3 inches..except the cake pans that are 2 ins each.

if you look at the ledge on each tier -- we will call that one inch -- use that as a ruler to measure the height of the other tiers -- i'd say 4 to 4.5 inches there -- a three inch tall tier in the 12x10x8x6 configuration is not going to look like the picture --

if they were petite tiers -- they might be 3" tall like -- 9x7x5x3

Don't kill me but...

--how much buttercream do you think I would need to cover the entire thing considering the design? Rose Levy Berenbaum's chart said 15 cups

--what's the best way to color buttercream..just add to the final product?

--how many coats would you do?

--she wants the 8" layer to be blue velvet and the rest white--what filling would you use for blue velvet??? what's a good one for white? Bride has no preference

just use buttercream filling -- no worries --

practice making that dark navy color now while there's no pressure -- i'd use royal blue and some black icing --

I only do one coat of icing

--how much buttercream do you think I would need to cover the entire thing considering the design? Rose Levy Berenbaum's chart said 15 cups

The rule of thumb is one recipe using 2#s of sugar for each cake mix used.  I have never measured by the cup - oh so very messy and NOT accurate.

--what's the best way to color buttercream..just add to the final product?

I think what k8 said......color it now - play around until you get the shade you want.  B'cream can be fzn so what you end up with can be saved :)

--how many coats would you do?

Just do a crumb coat (sometimes refered to as 'dirty iced') then a thicker final coat.

--she wants the 8" layer to be blue velvet and the rest white--what filling would you use for blue velvet??? what's a good one for white? Bride has no preference

Just pick one filling for the whole cake - b'cream is easy but you can add in some many different things - like jam; well chopped nuts; dried fruit like raisins, apracots, shaved choco bar; etc, to change it up :)

Thx to all! Time to get baking!