Stacking Wedding Cakes

I need some help..on a budget so I am buying from Marks and Spencers 3 wedding cakes, plain iced fruit centre all the same style cake, but different sizes and I want to stack them rather than using a three tier stand.

Does anyone know what I have to do so each cakes does not crush the one below and is easy to cut?

Basically I have had silk flowers and jewels made to match my wedding dress for my cake. some personalized ribbon and other bits and pieces to decorate it myself.

I think you'll need to use dowel rods and boards to put each layer on.

I think you'll need to use dowel rods and boards to put each layer on.

Yep.

Marks and Spencers sells the kit as well, 4 little columns that allow you to stack the tiers. Or at least they did when we bought our celebration cakes from them a few years ago.

The dowel rods are perfect for placing inside the cake to hold up a board to place another layer on top. The columns are great if you want the layers raised a bit so there is space between each layer.

Yep - I got my cakes at M&S and then decorated with silk flowers. I picked up the dowels when I picked up the cakes and it all looked quite nice. 

Can you tell me what section the dowel rods are in?  We've just ordered 2 cakes (non-wedding...just normal cakes from the catering section of the food catalogue) and are picking them up the day before the wedding.  Do you think we can buy dowels + boards at the same time?  Are they in the food section or what?  How much did they cost?

Thanks for the topic, LuckyCuz - we're doing the exact same thing for wedding in a couple weeks!!

Don't have anything too add as I was going to say the same thing as everyone else.

Are you going to post photos of it? I'd love to see!!!


Good luck!

Can you tell me what section the dowel rods are in?  We've just ordered 2 cakes (non-wedding...just normal cakes from the catering section of the food catalogue) and are picking them up the day before the wedding.  Do you think we can buy dowels + boards at the same time?  Are they in the food section or what?  How much did they cost?

Thanks for the topic, LuckyCuz - we're doing the exact same thing for wedding in a couple weeks!!

I've bought them at a craft store, but you can also get them at a place where you would buy wood.

So let me get this straight...as I am frightened I might balls this up.  Say I have 3 different sized cakes.  I buy 6 dowels?? three in the bottom cake and three in the middle cake and balance the boards on top?? Do you have to cut the dowels to the depth of the cake?  I found some dowels but they look like wooden BBQ Skewers, is this right?

Gosh I hope this isn't a disaster! 

Thanx for the advice ladies 

So let me get this straight...as I am frightened I might balls this up.  Say I have 3 different sized cakes.  I buy 6 dowels?? three in the bottom cake and three in the middle cake and balance the boards on top?? Do you have to cut the dowels to the depth of the cake?  I found some dowels but they look like wooden BBQ Skewers, is this right?

Gosh I hope this isn't a disaster! 

Thanx for the advice ladies 

Wiltons has a great step by step instructions

http://www.wilton.com/wedding/makecake/building/dowelrod/index.cfm

Hope it helps

Thank You Thank You Thank You 

I have been trawling sites to find that!

You are a star 

Thank You Thank You Thank You 

I have been trawling sites to find that!

You are a star 

lol your welcome 

If you can't find them in the store (I think the BBQ wooden squires may be too small) try using google "Cake dowel" there's a UK site that sells them for cheap...saw a few for 2 quid.


http://www.cakecraftshop.co.uk/shop/7/88/235/index.htm

I was in M&S yesterday and noticed they had plaster columns and dowels next to their wedding cakes. They're £3.99 for 4. This was in Brighton and they came in white or pink. If anyone wants them and can't get them, happy to pick some up and pop them in the post

Can you tell me what section the dowel rods are in? 

I saw the same thing MaryKate saw just the other day - packets of columns/dowels displayed with the cakes at M&S....

Here's a picture of ours - I think it turned out pretty well considering I'm not even vaguely crafty!! It's a bit blurry, but it's the only one I could find quickly.