Style and Decoration
Choosing a Cake Style
The words tiers and layers cause confusion.
Each cake has one or more tiers. (The number of tiers depends on the amount of cake you need.) Each tier is on a cardboard round or other firm surface for support. Each tier has two or three layers of cake. The number of layers is consistent in all the tiers so they would be the same height.
Arranging the tiers
Stacked (vertical)
The cakes are placed on top of each other. The support for these cakes is not seen. There may be wooden dowel or plastic straws cut to the exact height of the cake.
Tiered (vertical)
There is a space between each tier...the support for each is visible, such as plastic pillars, champagne glasses, whatever.
Combination (vertical)
These combine stacking and tiering. For example, the two bottom cakes (the heaviest) may be stacked, with the smaller top cake up on pillars.
Stepped (non-vertical)
Stepped cakes are individually placed on stands of varying heights. The types of stands and arrangements are limitless.
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Wedding Decorations:
For decorating, I prefer fresh flowers. Some brides wanted silk flowers. Ribbons are especially nice with a rolled fondant, which can also have the. Italian buttercream is used for borders and edging.
Rolled fondant (sugar) or marzipan may be used to cover the buttercream, which gives the cake a smooth finish.
Ribbons are set off well with a rolled fondant covering, and a lacy pattern can be piped on with royal icing.