Create A Cupcake Tower: Wedding Centerpiece Delights

Cupcakes are a fun and casual alternative to a traditional wedding cake. They can be displayed in a variety of ways, from a simple tower to a more elaborate dessert bar, and can be decorated with flowers, buttercream, or other toppings to match the wedding theme. Making a cupcake tower for a wedding requires some supplies and about 30-45 minutes of time. The base should be wide and low, with soup cans or styrofoam cylinders as supports between the layers, and cardboard cake circles to hold the cupcakes. The tower can be decorated with ribbon, fabric, or paper, and hot glue can be used to secure the layers and decorations.

Choosing a base for your tower

Firstly, you'll want to select a base that is wide and fairly low, providing a sturdy foundation for your tower. This could be a large plate, a wooden slab, or even a few Styrofoam discs glued together. If you're looking for something more decorative, you could choose a base with intricate details or a unique shape, such as a rustic wooden slab or a marble base with elegant edges.

Another option is to use a ready-made cupcake stand, which often comes with a built-in base. These stands are typically made of materials such as metal, acrylic, or cardboard, and can be found in various colours and styles to match your wedding theme. Some stands are even adjustable, allowing you to change the height and width to accommodate your cupcake arrangement.

When choosing a base, consider the overall theme and style of your wedding. For example, if you're having a rustic-themed wedding, a wooden base or a slice of wood would complement the theme beautifully. On the other hand, if your wedding has a more elegant or modern vibe, a sleek acrylic or metal base might be a better choice.

Additionally, keep in mind the number of cupcakes you plan to display. The base should be large enough to accommodate the bottom tier of your tower, ensuring that it is stable and can bear the weight of the cupcakes. If you're unsure, it's always better to go for a slightly larger base to avoid any stability issues.

Lastly, don't be afraid to get creative and think outside the box. You can decorate and personalise your chosen base to make it truly unique. Consider adding ribbons, fabric, or card stock to cover and embellish the base, tying in with your wedding colour scheme or theme.

Using soup cans as support

To make a cupcake tower for a wedding, you can use soup cans as supports between the layers. This method will result in a sturdy tower. You will need two cardboard cake circles for each tier, so for a three-tiered tower, you will need six cardboard circles in total, in descending sizes. For example, you could use 12-inch, 10-inch, and 8-inch circles.

First, glue the cardboard circles together in pairs, with the unfinished sides facing each other, to create a double layer. Then, cover the soup cans and the base with card stock, marking the length of the cans and cutting strips of card accordingly. Secure the card stock to the soup cans and the base with hot glue, using a ruler to press the card stock down if necessary.

Now you are ready to assemble the tower. Hot glue the base to the centre of the bottom tier, then glue a soup can pillar in the centre of that circle, ensuring it is balanced. Glue the next cardboard circle on top of the pillar, making sure the finished side is facing up. Repeat this process until all the pieces are in place.

Finally, cut a piece of ribbon long enough to edge each of the tiers. Hot glue the ribbon along the edge of the cardboard circle, pressing it down carefully and ensuring the top edge remains even with the surface. You may want to add a second layer of ribbon for a more opaque appearance. Repeat this process for the remaining tiers, and your cupcake tower is now ready to be filled!

Cardboard cake circles

Choosing the Right Cardboard Cake Circles:

• Size: Select cardboard cake circles in various sizes to create a tiered effect. For a three-tiered tower, you can opt for 12-inch, 10-inch, and 8-inch circles, as suggested by Everyday Annie. Choose circles that will accommodate the number of cupcakes you plan to display on each tier.
• Strength and Durability: Look for high-quality, thick cardboard cake circles that can bear the weight of the cupcakes and provide a sturdy base.
• Food-Grade Material: Ensure that the cardboard cake circles are made from food-grade material, especially if they will be in direct contact with the cupcakes or other food items. This guarantees that they are safe, healthy, and eco-friendly.
• Reusable and Moisture-Resistant: Consider cardboard cake circles that are reusable and moisture-resistant. This feature will ensure that any condensation from the cupcakes or surrounding environment does not cause the cardboard to weaken or disintegrate.
• Aesthetics: Choose cardboard cake circles with a smooth surface and a colour that complements your wedding theme. They can be left uncovered or decorated further, as per your preference.

Assembling the Cupcake Tower with Cardboard Cake Circles:

• Gather Materials: In addition to the cardboard cake circles, you will need a base (such as Styrofoam discs), supports between layers (soup cans or Styrofoam cylinders), card stock or fabric/ribbon for covering the base and pillars, a glue gun, and ribbon for edging the tiers.
• Prepare the Cardboard Cake Circles: Glue together two cardboard circles of the same size, with the unfinished sides facing inward, to create a sturdier platform. Repeat this process for all the tiers of your cupcake tower.
• Cover the Cardboard Circles: Trace the circumference of each cardboard circle onto card stock and cut out the corresponding circles. Use a hot glue gun to attach the card stock to the cardboard circles, giving them a finished appearance. You can also use decorative scissors to create a scalloped border for added detail.
• Assemble the Tower: Start by gluing the base to the centre of the bottom tier (on the uncovered side of the cardboard circle). Then, glue the support (soup can or Styrofoam cylinder) to the centre of that circle. Ensure it is balanced and stable. Continue by gluing the next cardboard circle on top of the support, keeping the finished side up. Repeat this process until all the pieces are in place.
• Embellish with Ribbon: Cut pieces of ribbon long enough to edge each tier. Apply hot glue along the edge of the cardboard circle and carefully press the ribbon onto it, maintaining an even top edge. You may need to apply a second layer of ribbon for a more opaque appearance, depending on the ribbon's transparency.

By following these steps and paying attention to the details, you can create a beautiful and functional cupcake tower for your wedding using cardboard cake circles. This DIY project is a creative way to display your cupcakes and will undoubtedly impress your guests.

Covering the tower with card stock

Firstly, you will need to trace around each of the cardboard circles onto the card stock. This will give you the exact size and shape you need to cut out. Cut carefully along the traced lines to create a corresponding circle from the card stock. Repeat this process for each of the cardboard circles you have, ensuring they are all covered.

Now, take your glue gun and apply hot glue to the cardboard circles. Carefully press the card stock circles onto the glued surface, smoothing out any bumps or creases as you go. This will give your tower a neat and uniform appearance. If you want to get creative, you can even use decorative scissors to cut around the edges of the card stock circles, adding a scalloped border for extra detail.

Next, we'll move on to covering the soup cans or pillars. Measure the length of each soup can and cut a strip of card stock to size. Secure the card stock tightly around the soup can using your hot glue gun. Be careful, as the glue can be very hot. Repeat this process for each pillar, ensuring they are all covered neatly.

Finally, cover the base of your tower with card stock in the same way as the pillars. Again, use your glue gun to secure the card stock, and a ruler to press it down smoothly until the glue has set.

And there you have it! Your cupcake tower is now covered with card stock and ready for the next steps of assembly. Remember, you can adapt and personalise your tower with different colours of card stock and ribbon to match your wedding theme.

Assembly and decoration

Now that you have gathered all the materials and prepared the base, pillars and circles, it's time to assemble your cupcake tower.

Start by placing the base in the centre of the bottom tier. Be sure to glue it to the bottom, uncovered side of the cardboard circle. Then, glue one of the soup can pillars in the centre of that circle. Eyeball the position to make sure it is balanced.

Next, glue the second cardboard circle on top of the pillar, ensuring the finished side is facing up. As the lid of the soup can is uneven, glue around the edges to ensure the can is in firm contact with the cardboard circle.

Repeat this process until all the pieces are in place.

To finish, cut a piece of ribbon long enough to edge each of the tiers. Hot glue along the edge of the top of the cardboard circle and carefully press the ribbon into place, keeping the top edge even with the surface. You only need to glue a few small dabs every few inches, and you can add a second layer of ribbon for a more opaque look. Repeat this process for the remaining tiers.

Now your cupcake tower is ready to be filled with delicious cupcakes!

Customisation ideas

You can adapt this method to create a tower that suits your needs. Here are some ideas:

• Add more tiers for a taller tower
• Experiment with different sizes, colours and styles of ribbon and paper
• Use styrofoam cylinders instead of soup cans for the pillars
• Cover the base and pillars with fabric or ribbon instead of card stock

Frequently asked questions