I have never done a five tiered cake before and I am a little nervous. Do you guys use the cardboard cake circles under the cakes and then just dowel like normal or do you use something else. I am just a little worried about the weight. I would normally use a heavy thick board under the bottom cake and then the cardboard cake circles under the other cakes. Is this what I should do?

You can do a single board under each cake. If you are really unsure, double your boards. I wrap mine in glad press n seal.

Dowel well and you should be a ok. Just don't forget a central dowel.

Under the bottom cake....some people use plywood...others use foam core, or something like that.

HTH! Good Luck!!

I like things really secure so I use double foam core board on the bottom and the hidden pillar/push in pillar and plate system for the other tiers. I recently did my first 5-tier cake and used this for a very solid cake.