Your wedding cake stand can make or break your cake-cutting picture. Continue for a complete guide on how to choose the perfect wedding cake stand.
Last updated February 5, 2024
A wedding cake stand is a literal foundation that your cake stands on—so you want to make sure that you pick something solid and sturdy. Don’t worry, you can also choose one that looks beautiful. Of course, aesthetics and what type of cake you’re having on your big day factor in, too, so you want to choose a wedding cake stand that matches your overall theme and wedding vision.
Your wedding planner and baker are your best resources to help you choose the right stand for your cake. If you’re DIY-ing your wedding cake or cupcakes, you can order a cake stand online or look for a vintage stand at antique stores near you. Here’s a look at the different types of wedding cake stands and how to decide what’s right for your wedding.
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The size and type of wedding cake you’re getting will influence which cake stands you can use. Common types of wedding cakes include:
There are different styles of cake stands. You can choose which one will work for your wedding cake based on the height of your cake and how much it weighs. You should also think about how you want the cake to be displayed (tiered, separate layers on different stands, or floating.)
A cake plate—a display plate or platter generally for one or two-tiered cakes—may be flat or slightly elevated. Cake plates may come in different shapes, such as square or round.
In need of a rustic cake stand? This round cake stand, which is made from a real wood slice, is sure to wow at your wedding reception.
If you’re looking for a more classic, traditional cake plate for your cake table, this metal cake stand from Bed, Bath, and Beyond could be a good option.
Want to keep things simple? This Pasabahce glass serving stand will let your cake take center stage.
If your wedding dessert is on the smaller side (for example, if you’re looking for more of a cupcake display than an actual cake stand), this wood and marble option from Crate & Barrel packs a lot of elegance into a small size. (Plus, after your wedding is finished and you no longer need it for wedding decor, this modern cake stand can double as home decor or kitchenware!)
Another simple option, this glass cake stand from Food52 is made from hand-blown recycled glass. This dessert display would be a simple, elegant serving option for a one or two-tiered cake.
A pedestal cake stand is a raised cake stand that can be used for one or multi-tiered cakes. This is a popular choice for wedding cake display as it elevates your cake and creates an eye-catching centerpiece for your cake/dessert table.
This white cake stand is made from porcelain china. It’s simple, it’s classic, and it would match with a variety of wedding styles and decor—making this an extremely versatile cake riser option.
If you want to keep your cake stand simple—but you prefer metal over porcelain or glass—this metal geometric cake stand from Wayfair could be a great option.
If you have a single-tier cake (and a not-so-tall cake topper!)—and you want the option to cover your cake at any point during your wedding day—this glass cake stand set, which comes equipped with a glass dome cover, from Bed Bath & Beyond could make a great addition to your dessert table.
If you’re looking for a more glam stand, this gold metal dessert display stand, which has a modern, art deco feel, could be a great (and glam!) option for your wedding cake.
If your wedding style is more rustic or country-inspired, this cake display stand, which features an array of hand-painted flowers, could be the cake stand for you.
If you’re serving your guests smaller desserts at your wedding (like cupcakes or pastries), a multi-tiered stand, which features two to three tiers of dessert serving trays, could be a great option.
This wood dessert tower would make the perfect cupcake stand or serving tray for bite-sized wedding desserts, like fruit tarts or cream puffs.
If you want both tiers of your multi-tiered stand to be the same size (as opposed to a larger tier on bottom and smaller on the top), this wood and metal option World Market would fit the bill.
This three-tier cake holder/cupcake cake stand is reminiscent of a formal English tea party—so if that’s the look and feel you’re going for with your wedding, you’ll definitely want to check this one out.
If you want to infuse your dessert table with a bit of color, you can’t go wrong with this cake stand, crafted with pink glass, from Galore Home.
This wood and marble cake two-tiered cake stand from Crate & Barrel has a modern, minimalist look that would work with a variety of wedding styles.
If you want to create a stunning display for your cake/dessert table, consider a floating cake stand. A floating cake stand, which utilizes a cake spacer placed between two tiers of cake, gives the impression that layers of your cake are “floating.”
If you want to create the illusion of floating between your vertical cake layers, this acrylic cake separator from Etsy can help you pull it off.
If you want a more dramatic floating look—and more space between each layer—this CENTRAL BAR floating stand could be the cake stand you’re looking for.
If you want to not only dazzle with a floating cake display, but also add another design element to your dessert table, this hoop-shaped cake separator is definitely one to consider.
This floating cake stand allows you to fill the space in between your tiers with an extra design element to grab people’s attention—like flowers or fairy lights.
This cake spacer has an intricate geometric design between tiers. If you want to do something different and out of the box from the traditional floating cake stand, this might be the cake stand for you!
Cake stands are available in a variety of materials. Pick a cake stand that aligns well with your wedding theme and aesthetic.
A reputable banker who has experience with wedding cakes should be able to advise you on which type of cake stand you’ll need. Some points you may want to discuss with them include the following:
The wedding cake baker is the best resource for what size cake stand plate or base, you’ll need. Follow these general guidelines to give you a better idea of what to expect.
Pro tip: The plate of your cake stand should always be larger than the size of your cake’s base layer.
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