Create A Wedding Cupcake Stand: Diy Guide

A cupcake stand is a great way to display your baked goods at a wedding. You can make your own cupcake stand at home with a few simple materials, such as plates, platters, cardboard, polystyrene cake dummies, and some glue. You can also decorate your stand with wrapping paper, foil, or satin ribbon to match the colour or pattern of your cupcakes.

Using old lamp parts

To make a cupcake stand out of old lamp parts, you'll first need to get your hands on some old lamps. Head to your local thrift shop or yard sale, or try eBay for vintage lamp parts. Look for brass lamp bases, which you can detach from the rest of the lamp. You can also buy an unfinished (raw metal) lamp base online.

Next, you'll need to find a plate to attach to the lamp base. Thrift stores and yard sales are great places to find cast-off plates, or you could use one from your own collection. A pastel floral plate would look lovely for a wedding, but you can use any plate that suits your style.

Before you start assembling your cupcake stand, clean the metal parts with a degreaser like trisodium phosphate (TSP). Then, paint the base with a coat of primer and let it dry. Once it's dry, paint it with your chosen colour of acrylic craft paint. You may need to add a second coat, depending on the coverage. When the paint is dry, spray on a sealer so that the stand can be washed by hand.

Now it's time to assemble your cupcake stand! Simply glue the plate to the lamp base using a strong, waterproof glue. Allow the glue to dry overnight before using the stand.

Your unique DIY cupcake stand is now ready to be filled with cupcakes for your wedding!

Choosing a base

Using Old Lamp Parts:

This idea from Shabbyfufu involves using old lamp parts to create a one-of-a-kind cupcake stand. First, you'll need to find old lamps, either from thrift shops, yard sales, or online platforms like eBay. Look for lamp bases made of brass or raw metal, which you can detach from the midsections. You can also purchase an unfinished base if you prefer. Combine this base with a floral plate or any plate that complements your wedding theme. Before assembling, clean the metal parts with a degreaser like trisodium phosphate (TSP). You can use multi-purpose waterproof glue to attach the plate to the base and let it dry overnight.

Creating a Base from Scratch:

If you want to create a base from scratch, you can use materials like cardboard, plastic, or a thick cutting board. Cut the material into a shape that suits your wedding theme—it could be a circle, a square, or even a heart. Cover the base with wrapping paper, foil, or fabric to enhance its appearance, especially if it's a simple material like cardboard. You can also look for ready-made cake bases, usually available cheaply and wrapped in gold or silver foil.

Using Cake Boards and Cake Dummies:

For a more structured cupcake stand, you can use cake boards and cake dummies, which are foam pillars used by bakers for wedding and decorative cakes. You'll need cake boards in descending sizes, such as 8", 10", and 12". For a five-tier stand, include 14" and 16" cake boards as well. Additionally, you'll need pairs of cake dummies in sizes 6" and 7", with each pair glued together. Wrap satin ribbon around the cake dummies and secure it with metal pins or glue. Cut out paper circles that match the size of your cake boards and glue them onto the boards. Finally, assemble the stand by attaching the cake boards to the cake dummies using strong double-sided carpet tape.

Using Plates and Platters:

Another option is to create a simple single-layer stand using plates and platters. Choose a base layer, such as a platter or a large plate. Find a suitable pillar, such as a martini glass, a vase, or any tall object with a wide brim. Place the pillar in the centre of the base layer and balance a single plate on top. You can decorate the stand with floral plates or mismatched china pieces. If you want to create a multi-layer stand, choose lightweight plates and platters that decrease in size as you go up, such as a dinner plate, a side plate, a cake plate, and a saucer.

Selecting plates and pillars

Plates

When choosing plates for your cupcake stand, it's important to consider the size, weight, and pattern. Here are some tips:

• Choose plates that decline in size as they go up the stand. For example, use a dinner plate for the first layer, a side plate for the next layer, and a saucer for the top layer.
• Mix and match plates with pretty patterns, or keep it simple with plain white or silver platters for a neutral look.
• Thrift stores, yard sales, and sites like eBay are great places to find unique and budget-friendly plates.
• Consider using floral plates or plates with other decorative patterns to add a whimsical touch to your stand.
• If you want to add a personal touch, use mismatched china pieces or single plates from your collection.
• For the top layer, you can use an unwanted CD instead of a plate. Wash it first and leave it unwrapped or cover it with paper or fabric.

Pillars

The pillars are what will hold your layers together, so it's important to choose items that are strong, balanced, and safe to use around food. Here are some tips for selecting pillars:

• Choose pillars that decline in size as they go up the stand, just like the plates.
• Get creative and choose items like glasses, cups, eggcups, vases, sugar bowls, or even fabric-covered cleaned-out cans.
• Ensure that the pillars are not too heavy for the plates and that they don't take up too much room.
• If you're using a mish-mash of items for your pillars, limit the number of layers to four or five to avoid toppling and breakage.
• Wash and clean all pillars thoroughly before use to ensure they are safe for displaying food.

Remember to have fun with the process and let your creativity shine! With a bit of imagination, you can create a beautiful and unique cupcake stand for your wedding.

Assembly

Option 1: Simple single-layer stand:

• Find a base layer: This could be a platter or a plate, ideally something flat.
• Find a suitable pillar: It should be tall, such as a martini glass, a vase, or a wide-brimmed glass.
• Find a single plate: Choose a decent-sized plate for the only layer you'll create.
• Place the base layer: Put it in the spot where the cupcakes will be served; it's best not to move this stand once it's set up.
• Arrange the pillar: Place the chosen object in the centre of the base layer.
• Add the plate layer: Carefully balance the plate on top of the pillar.
• Place the cupcakes: Arrange them on the top layer. You can also use the base layer for additional cupcakes if needed.

Option 2: Bits and pieces stand:

• Create a base: Use a flat piece of cardboard, plastic, or a thick cutting board. It can be any shape but should be solid and aesthetically pleasing.
• Cover the base (optional): If the base needs improvement, cover it with wrapping paper, foil, or another type of covering.
• Choose the layers: Select plates and platters that are lightweight, strong, and preferably decline in size as they go up. For instance, use a dinner plate for the first layer, a side plate for the next, and so on.
• Match or mix the plates: If you have pretty patterned plates, eclectic matching won't matter. Plain white or silver platters are a safe choice for a neutral look.
• Top layer option: For the final layer, where only one plate is used, an unwanted CD can be a clever item to use. Wash it first and either leave it unwrapped or cover it with paper or fabric.
• Make the pillars: Choose items that are strong, food-safe, balanced, and decline in size as they go up. Examples include glasses, cups, vases, sugar bowls, etc.
• Arrange the pillars and layers: Place the base layer down first, then add the first pillar and balance the next layer on top. Continue adding pillars and balancing layers until complete.
• Add the cupcakes: Carefully arrange them on each layer of the stand.

Option 3: Cake stand cupcake tier:

• Find a base layer: Choose something flat, strong, and pretty, like a silver platter or a favourite dish.
• Find two cake stands: They can be the same size or different; if different, the smaller stand will sit on top of the larger one.
• Assemble: Put the base layer down first, then centre the first cake stand on top of it. Place the second cake stand on the first one, centring it as well.
• Fill with cupcakes: Use the base layer and both cake stand layers to display the cupcakes.

Option 4: Cake dummy and cake board cupcake stand:

• Visit a cake supplies store: You'll need cake dummies (foam pillars) and cake boards (foil-coated boards to hold heavy cakes). For a three-tiered stand, you'll need three cake boards of descending sizes and four cake dummies, with two pairs of different sizes.
• Prepare the cake dummies: Glue each pair of cake dummies together and let them dry.
• Wrap the cake dummies with satin ribbon: Pin one end of the ribbon to the base of a cake dummy, wrap it around tightly, and secure the other end with another pin at the top. Repeat for the other cake dummy.
• Cut out paper circles: Place each cake board on a piece of pretty wrapping paper and draw around it with a pencil. Cut out the paper circles with scissors.
• Cover the cake boards: Spread glue on a cake board and place a paper circle on top, pressing down to cover the entire board. Repeat for the other boards.
• Wrap the cake boards with satin ribbon: Use glue or double-sided tape to attach the ribbon around the edges of each cake board.
• Build the cake stand: Use strong double-sided tape to keep the boards attached to the pillar cake dummies. Start with the largest cake board, attaching the first pillar to its centre. Then add the middle cake board to the top of the first pillar and the second pillar to its centre. Finish with the final cake board on top.
• Place the stand: It's best not to move this stand once the cupcakes are in place. Arrange the cupcakes around each layer as desired.

Feel free to decorate the stand with flowers, ribbons, or other wedding-themed decorations to make it even more special!

Decorating the stand

There are many ways to decorate your DIY cupcake stand. Here are some ideas:

Colour Schemes

If you want to decorate your stand with a certain colour scheme in mind, you can paint the base of your stand with acrylic craft paint. Pastel colours are a good choice for a bridal or baby shower, or a spring tea party. You can also use wrapping paper, foil, or cloth to cover the base and the pillars of your stand. For a more natural look, you can use raw metal lamp stands and vintage plates.

Patterns

If you want to use patterned plates, eclectic matching won't matter. Plain white or silver platters are always a safe bet when you want a neutral look. You can also use paper doilies for decoration.

Flowers

You can use floral plates or bowls for your stand, or glue together a stack of orphaned teacups and plates. If you want to add fresh flowers, you can fill a glass cloche with cupcakes or cookies and place it on top of the stand.

Ribbons

You can wrap satin ribbon around the cake dummies and cake boards. Pin one end of the ribbon to the base of the cake dummy and wrap it tightly all the way around, securing the other end with another pin at the top. Then, wrap ribbon around the edges of the cake boards and glue it in place.

Other Decorations

You can also use rolled fondant to cover your cake boards. For a rustic wedding, you can use wooden cake stands. For a more elegant look, you can use crystal cupcake stands.

Frequently asked questions