Hi everyone. I'm fairly new to this site and this may be an old topic, but how do you handle stacked cakes (ie, 8" atop a 10") that require seperator plates and dowel rods..do you ask the customer to return the cake "equipment" or just increase the price to cover these items? It seems like alot to ask someone to drive back to your house to return a plate or wooden board. Also, is there some way of avoiding this alltogether like disposable boards and plates? Thanks for any help!

Hi there, and welcome to CC!

Anytime I have a wedding cake with any non-disposable equipment (hidden pillars, separator plates, etc.), I always require a refundable equipment deposit, which is a separate check from the actual cake payment. I don't cash it unless the equipment is not returned to me. When the equipment is returned to me, I give back the check. For example, for a 3-tier cake that has 8 hidden pillars and 2 separator plates, I require a $20 equipment deposit. Granted, that is more than the replacement cost, but it is enough to be an incentive for the customer to return the equipment. I always take a box to the reception site with me, and in the box I put the boxed up 1st anniversary cake, plus I tape a typed list of equipment that needs to be returned and the date it must be returned by. It may seem like a hassle to ask the customer to return the equipment, but the cost of those items adds up if you have to keep buying them. Hope this helps!

Added after the original post: I do put all of my cakes on disposable cardboard boards, and I do not require those to come back.

I put cakes on disposable boards. I do know that some people require a deposit for the equipment and the bride or whoever brings the stuff back. I know this isn't much help, I would like to know more too, I've seen some really pretty cake plates but would worry about getting them back also.

If I use standard wilton plates and columns I figure my cost and add it t the cake price. I do not get deposits for those items. However, I do get deposits for fountains stands, plateaus, fountains , specialty stands and any other ornaments or candle stands I might use. I require a cash deposit, which is refunded when they return the items cleaned and in good shape.