Crafting Cupcake Stands For Wedding Delights

A cupcake stand is a great way to serve cupcakes at a wedding. They can be made at home with everyday items, or you can repurpose old items such as lamp stands, plates, and vases. The stand can be decorated with satin ribbons, wrapping paper, or paint. The number of tiers can vary, but a five-tier stand can hold about 51 regular cupcakes. It's important to ensure that the stand is sturdy, balanced, and food-safe.

Using plates and platters

Materials and Preparation:

• Gather your plates and platters in different sizes, preferably with the sizes decreasing as you go up the stand. You can mix and match patterns or stick to a neutral colour palette.
• Choose your pillars or supports. These can be glasses, vases, cans, or any tall object that can safely hold the weight of the plates and cupcakes. Ensure that the pillars also decrease in size as you go up the stand.
• If desired, cover your pillars and plates with wrapping paper, fabric, or ribbon to create a cohesive look. Use glue or double-sided tape to secure the coverings.
• Prepare your base by covering it with wrapping paper, foil, or any other decorative material. You can use a flat piece of cardboard, plastic, or a thick cutting board and cut it into the desired shape.

Assembly:

• Place your base down first and secure it with non-slip mats if needed.
• Carefully balance the first pillar or support in the centre of the base.
• Add the first plate or platter on top of the pillar, making sure it is stable and balanced.
• Continue adding pillars and plates, always centring them and checking for stability.
• Once all the pieces are in place, carefully arrange the cupcakes on each layer of the stand.

Tips and Tricks:

• When sizing the layers, ensure there is enough room for the cupcakes to stand upright without damaging their frosting or decorations.
• Wash and dry all materials before using them to display food.
• Avoid making the stand too tall or unstable. Stick to four to five layers to ensure it is safe and secure.
• If you want to make your stand portable, consider using lightweight materials and securing them with strong double-sided tape.

Using old lamp parts

For the top of the stand, you can use a plate or bowl. Thrift stores and yard sales often have cast-off floral plates that would work well. Etsy is another good source for single Limoges china plates. Before assembling the stand, clean the metal parts with a degreaser like trisodium phosphate (TSP).

To add a personal touch, you can paint the base to coordinate with your chosen plate. First, apply a coat of primer, then paint with your chosen colour, and finish with a sealer so that it can be washed by hand. Once the paint is dry, use a strong, waterproof glue to attach the plate or bowl to the base. Allow the glue to dry overnight before using the stand.

This project is a creative way to upcycle old lamp parts and display your cupcakes in a unique and beautiful way at your wedding.

Using cake dummies and boards

Materials

For a three-tiered cupcake stand, you'll need:

• 3 cake boards in descending sizes
• 4 cake dummies, one pair larger than the other
• Satin ribbon in the colour of your choice
• Pretty wrapping paper (matching your party theme or a colour/pattern you love)
• Double-sided tape (strong)
• Glue
• Scissors
• Pencil

Method

Step 1: Prepare the cake dummies

Glue each pair of cake dummies together and leave them to dry.

Step 2: Wrap the cake dummies

Pin the satin ribbon to the base of one of the glued pairs of cake dummies. Wrap the ribbon all the way around the cake dummy and secure it at the top with another pin. Add a dab of glue here and there to keep the ribbon taut. Repeat with the other cake dummy.

Step 3: Prepare the cake boards

Place the first cake board on the reverse side of the wrapping paper and draw around it with a pencil. Do the same for the other two cake boards. Cut out the paper circles you've drawn.

Dab glue all over the first cake board and press the paper circle down, ensuring it covers the whole board. Repeat with the other two cake boards.

Step 4: Finish the cake boards

Wrap satin ribbon around the edges of each cake board and glue in place.

Step 5: Build the stand

Use double-sided tape to keep the boards attached to the pillar cake dummies. Place the largest cake board down first and add tape to the base of the first pillar. Find the centre of the cake board and press the pillar down firmly.

Place tape on the top of this dummy and find the centre of the middle cake board. Press the two together, with the base facing the pillar's top. Repeat for the next dummy and final layer.

Place the stand where you'll be serving from and arrange the cupcakes around each layer.

Care and Reuse

After use, wipe the stand down with a dry cloth to remove crumbs. Use a damp cloth to spot clean frosting or sticky crumbs. Eventually, the stand will become rundown and you'll need to pull it apart and rewrap it with new paper and wash the ribbon. Try not to throw away the base materials – they can be reused if you renew the outer materials.

Using a vase or glass as a pillar

Choose your materials:

• Select a vase or glass that is tall and has a wide brim. It should be sturdy and able to bear the weight of the cupcakes and plates.
• Choose plates or platters that are lightweight, strong, and preferably decline in size as they go up the stand. You can use plates with pretty patterns or plain white or silver platters for a neutral look.
• If desired, you can also use wrapping paper, foil, or fabric to cover the vase or glass and plates to match your wedding colours or theme.

Assemble the cupcake stand:

• Start by placing the largest plate or platter on a flat surface where the cupcake stand will remain. This will be your base layer.
• Carefully centre the vase or glass on the base layer.
• Balance the next-largest plate on top of the vase or glass. Ensure that it is secure and balanced.
• Continue adding plates, using the vase or glass as a pillar between each layer.
• Once all the plates are in place, carefully arrange the cupcakes on each layer.

Tips for success:

• When sizing the layers, ensure there is enough room for the cupcakes to stand upright without bumping into each other or the plates.
• Wash all materials well before using them to display food.
• If you want to add height to your stand, consider using a second, smaller vase or glass on top of the first pillar, creating a second tier.
• For a more secure hold, you can use hot glue or strong double-sided tape between the layers.
• If desired, decorate the stand with ribbons, lace, or other embellishments that match your wedding theme.

By following these steps, you can create a beautiful and functional cupcake stand using a vase or glass as a pillar. It is a simple and cost-effective way to display your wedding cupcakes and can be easily adapted to fit your wedding colours and theme.

Using glue and ribbon

Materials:

• Cake boards: 1x8", 1x10", 1x12" (additional sizes for more tiers)
• Polystyrene cake dummies: 2x2" high in 6" and 7" sizes (adjust sizes for more tiers)
• Satin ribbon: enough to wrap around cake dummies and boards
• Glue stick or double-sided tape
• Strong double-sided carpet tape
• Metal pins (optional)
• Scissors
• Pencil

Instructions:

• Start by gluing the cake dummies together. Allow them to dry completely before proceeding to the next step.
• Take the satin ribbon and fasten it to one of the cake dummies with a metal pin. You can also use a small piece of double-sided tape. Wrap the ribbon tightly around the cake dummy and secure the other end with another pin or piece of tape. Repeat this step for the remaining cake dummy.
• Place the cake boards on a flat surface and use the pencil to draw a line around each board onto the paper. Cut out the paper circles with scissors.
• Apply glue stick to one of the cake boards and place one of the paper circles on top, pressing down firmly. Repeat this step for the remaining cake boards.
• Use the glue stick or double-sided tape to attach the satin ribbon around the sides of each cake board. Make sure the ribbon is wrapped tightly and securely.
• Now, it's time to assemble the cupcake stand. Use strong double-sided carpet tape to attach the cake dummies to the cake boards. Start with the largest cake board as the base and work your way up, centering each cake dummy on the board above.
• Once assembled, place your cupcakes on each tier of the stand.

Feel free to decorate the stand further by wrapping the cake boards and dummies with decorative paper or fabric before applying the ribbon. You can also use different colours or patterns of ribbon to match your wedding theme.

Frequently asked questions