Friday, August 14, 2009

Creative DIY ideas for a wedding - cupcake stand


One of the growing new trends in weddings is the elimination of the traditional wedding cake. By going a bit trendy, a bit more thrifty and pouring forth a lot of creative DIY juices, you can make a spectacular statement with a cupcake tower.
I am proud to say that my brother tackled the Do it Yourself (DIY) project of the decade last weekend.
As my niece browsed cake ideas on-line, my brother's "I can do this even better, and save money" juices kicked into full gear.
Yes, my friends, he saw, he sawed, he sewed....he conquered. ;)

Capturing the height, depth and class of this stand wasn't possible with my camera, but it made a beautiful statement.

Thinking ahead on the specific details made it possible to slide the decorative 2x4's in and out to switch out the fabric for a variety of uses.

Yes, the gorgeous bridesmaid dresses were a deep brown to match the cupcake stand fabric.
Yet how wonderful to know that next summer's anniversary party might be accented in greens, and all this hard work can easily accommodate that change. You can bet all the other nieces were clapping in glee when he mentioned that this was built for everyone to use.
But don't even ask, he'll say "no." ;)
We already tried to get him to sell these...

Now if cupcakes aren't your thing, please brainstorm with me for a minute.
I think there could be tons of unique ways to use this...mini dessert plates set around the tiers, flowers, appetizers...what else?
Martha Stewart Monogram Cupcake

All I can say is, "Martha Stewart, move on over..."
Now this, my dear eldest brother, is a very GOOD thing. :)

Posted at: kimbas

57 comments:

Unknown said...

I really like that. It is elegant and I am sure it cost way, way less than your traditional wedding cake.

When my husband and I married two years ago I did our own cake and what I ended up doing was using heavy duty cardboard boxes. I took them and stacked them using different sizes and I covered them with fabric as well. The look I created was similar and It turned out great and was cheap.

Gina said...

WOW! That's all. Just wow.

Sue said...

This is beautiful!!! Way to go bro!!!
Of course I see something different sitting on the second level and I am dying to know what that was..LOL...well...you put the photos on your blog...and let us leave comments ...and ask questions LOL

Pretty Organizer said...

Girl, did it really take humanity THAT LONG to come up with this concept? I think I'll mandate this at my daughters wedding. I'll start building cupcake stands on the side, you know, extra DIY income. I'll have my whole line out by June for sure. Fantastic info shaweethaht! I've got to get to bed... I'm supposed to be at the gym at 5:30 for training... ha! it's 1am... I'm a athletic dorker.

Kitty Scraps said...

Clever and beautiful!

Bonita said...

Hear me clapping and cheering for your brother, the wedding hero! That's awesome!

And it's reusable too???!! Can't get better than that.

My first thought beyond using for a wedding is what wonderful tea parties you could have with all the goodies spread out on there.

Hey, and tell your brother he absolutely needs to market and sell these. Tell him to picture himself a few years and a few million sales later flying his private jet to lounge on his private island. Seriously, these would sell!

Anonymous said...

Cupcakes ROCK!!

For my daughter's recent 9th birthday, we skipped the cake and did cupcakes.

I frosted a few but then filled bags with frosting and tips and had placed bowls of sprinkles and jelly beans and Twizzler pieces (all either free or purchased with JoAnn's 40-50% coupons) and the girls were able to decorate their own cupcakes. I had take home containers which my local market was happy to give me for free. So each girl took home 6 decorated cupcakes.

Total time effort in making 70 cupcakes- about 3 hours
Total cost for cupcakes and sprinkles- about $7.00
Effect on a group of giggly 9 year olds- PRICELESS

(ALL of the moms now plan on doing this at THEIR parties...)

:-)

---and I agree, your brother needs to market those. They're SWANKY!!---

Anonymous said...

This is STUNNING! I am helping plan my cousins wedding at the moment. We are having tiered cupcakes too. I'm going to get my husband to check out this post and see if he can create something similar in deep purple and wild rose. Tell your brother he is incredibly talented. xx

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Jen, that is gorgeous!! What a cool idea. :) My sister is getting married next month and pulling out all the stops. (It is completely different than the wedding T and I had 8 years ago) She wanted something different, so they are doing pies, which I think is a little bit off, b/c I like cake (and cupcakes!!!), but I think it will be fun. :)

Nadir @ Hodgepodge said...

This is stunning! I made a cupcake tower recently for my little sister's graduation party. They're a fun & inexpensive way to jazz up any get together.

Runner Mom said...

That is just gorgeous! Love this, Jen! Tell him that he did a great job!! Y'all have a great weekend!

Hugs!
Susan

Anonymous said...

i knew i had seen this before...very similar

http://www.ellezdesigns.com/site/2009/03/diy-cupcake-stand/

Astrid in Bristling Acres said...

Awesome!

We love cupcakes around here too. I don't have a fancy stand. That ought to go on my to-do list. LOL!
:)

Jessica Morris said...

Stunning!! That is gorgeous - he should do a guest post on how to build it :)

And you cracked me up with "Martha Stewart move on over" ... I do believe those lights sitting in front of the cake standing are from the Martha Stewart wedding line - on sale at Big Lots for $2 a couple months ago. ;) The connection just made me giggle.

Denise said...

It's wonderful, the fact you can change out the centers with different fabric/color themes is awesome. Definitely a market for these I'm sure!

Unknown said...

Your brother is indeed talented, and all the more special as he made it for his daughter.

Runner Mom said...

Me again! I went back and read your God Watch post. Wonderful! I loved this: "His faithfulness reminds me that I have no other choice than to punctuate my life with praise." Thank you for sharing this with us!!

Hugs!
Susan

Unknown said...

What a beautiful idea and of course your brother is that talented... it is in your genes.

Beautiful.
Cynthia

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Jen, what a great project for your bro to tackle. It is gorgeous & one of a kind.

Julie said...

HOLY COW - that is AMAZING!!! Gotta love a guy that's willing to get in there and help/craft!

Charity said...

Like Bonita, my first thought for further use was tea parties, too. Can you imagine: finger sandwiches, petit fours, chocolate dipped strawberries, mini-scones, mini-anything, really!

This is a wonderful idea - we may have to look into building one of our own, too! Thanks! :o)

Anonymous said...

WOW what a creative and talented guy! I know you said he wont sell them, but could he share a few details so I can get my husband busy on constructing one?? Very very beautiful, thanks for sharing! Sue

southerninspiration said...

He could sure sell the plans for those!!! that is spectacular!!! It looks fantastic!

Suzanne

annies home said...

what a great idea I love this

Chandra said...

I like the stand your brother made more than the one by Martha Stewart! My friend had a similar cake-substitution idea for her wedding, but instead of cupcakes they used donuts! You can see a picture of it here: http://www.theburbblog.com/Home/tabid/55/EntryID/301/Default.aspx

Linds said...

WOWZERS! G-ORGEOUS!

Unknown said...

That is GORGEOUS!!! And that's all I have to say about that! :)

Scooper said...

How cute is that!?! And I also have wanted to say all week that I'm so glad I got to meet you Sat. Thanks for your encouraging words. And let me also say that you sure know how to organize a crowd of women. Bravo!

Vicki said...

Love the cupcake stand. Glad people are moving in the cupcake direction. Makes so much more sense than having to cut all tha cake!

Melissa Lester said...

What a super idea! I see the creativity runs in your family!

Lovely Little Nest said...

Wow, I can't believe he made that himself! It looks like it was done by a professional - so chic and pretty :)

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

I love this elegant look...thanks so much for sharing....

Misti of Studio M Designs said...

THAT IS CRAZY FABULOUS! I am so out of the wedding scene nowadays, and have not yet seen this idea. He is awesomer than awesome! Big high fives, girl. That is cool!

Stop by for an Uppercase Living giveaway. It ends Sun., Aug. 16 at noon.

~Misti

Jena Webber said...

I like the fact that the stand can be reused for her house later on. What a neat thing to display greeting cards on? Really cool.

Richella Parham said...

How cool is this??

Wouldn't it be awesome if weddings could be re-captured from the realm of let's-go-into-debt-for-this-ceremony and brought back to let's-celebrate-this-new-life?

So wonderfulness runs in your family, does it?

Hillary @ The Other Mama said...

Love this!! SO Classy and well done. And I don't think Martha's holds a candle to his!

Katie said...

amazing that a man did that! bravo to your brother! in my family, the boys care about sports and maybe throwing something together with a hammer and nails. this requires so much more tlc! Wow!

Pat said...

Jen,
This is amazing!!! I love cupcakes and think they are so fun to use and easier to serve. You have added STUNNING!!
Good job girl!

Madison Sanders said...

That cake stand is beautiful and elegant! I love that it can be used for many purposes.

The Blushing Hostess said...

I love the idea, might convert it to an idea for a children's party...

Tiffany said...

I'm having a giveaway on my blog for a gorgeous coffee set, if you get a moment come by and enter!

http://songbirdtiff.blogspot.com/2009/08/its-time-for-giveaway_17.html

Rachel R. said...

I wanted to do something like this at my wedding. (My husband vetoed that untraditional idea given his position in our very traditional church.) But I was just going to paint styrofoam or something. lol

Would your brother consider putting together and selling the plans for this?

Shelley said...

I couldn't figure out how to leave comment on your coupon post so I am highjacking this one to ask a question about CVS ECB. I hope you don't mind. A CVS just opened by our house and I immediately thought of you. My question is, how do I redeem the ECB? Do I take the actual reciept with me to the store? Thanks.

Nicole Feliciano said...

I’m reaching out to all the Moms on my blog role to tell you about a new Momtrends feature. Every Monday I will be posting Mommy Time Monday. This is a chance for other bloggers to link up and share something they’ve done in the past week. The idea is to promote carving out “me-time” without the kids and to inspire other moms to do the same. After all, that’s time with friends, or pursuing a passion/hobby keep us moms sane. I hope you’ll stop by and join in the fun.

http://momtrends.blogspot.com/2009/08/mommy-time-monday-pilates-class.html

Terri said...

Adorable idea!!! I love the coffee bar, too. Frugal weddings rock!!! Blessings!

Unknown said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Fantastic!

Its So Very Cheri said...

That is the cutest idea ever. I started a new KNOCK OFF KNOCK OUT party and I bet you have some things to put in the party-it's every Monday. I would love to have you submit this idea next Monday. I hope you come over and become a follower and subscribe and I will do the same.
Cheri
Its So Very Cheri

Let it Shine said...

It is absolutely gorgeous! And how special for your niece! Imagine using it for a baby shower :)

~Country Lady~ said...

Oh wow! Your brother did a fantastic job. My son was married this summer at our lakehouse. We had a barbeque reception and opted for a cupcake tower with gerber daisy decorated cupcakes. It made a fantastic display. Someday soon, I'm going to blog about my son's wedding and my transformation of our yard for this special event. I'll show pics then of the cupcake tower display. It was a huge hit. Thanks so much for sharing this. Your brother is talented.

Crystal said...

Unbelievable, I want one!

I have a poll up on my blog about my BIGGEST decor dilemma. Come on over and vote, I need all the help I can get!

http://imnomartha.blogspot.com/2009/08/first-poll-ever-to-paint-or-not-to.html

Erin said...

so awesome!!

arkie said...

That is so great!

Leighann said...

There are six girls in my family - five of us already married. I wish we would've thought of this. It's amazing. And, being the planner I am, I love your brother for thinking ahead and using change out 2x4s.

OH, and the word 'balance' is one of my favorite. I think I like you!

Amber said...

Wow! That is fantastic! He did a wonderful job! And he sewed. Wow.

Anonymous said...

Wow!!!looking so sweet...great idea...what a decoration really fantastic i love it..
--
Reenee
Best Affordable Security Systems Suitable for Renters and Apartments, Business and RV

Heather said...

WOW. I absolutely love it! That is so gorg'! Now, if only I could find and idea of how to display a "wedding pie" in a classy way.

Miss G said...

impressive! We considered making our own cake pedestals and similar things for our wedding and decided we didn't feel like going to the effort. Really, really cool and well executed! Kelly