As background, I am a hobbiest, but do my work is a good as some pros (just slower), and I do about 1 wedding cake a year for friends. You can see the wedding cakes I've done here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150226596218233.313594.563468232&type=3&l=19dc56527a
And other cakes here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150120764178233.276024.563468232&type=3&l=89f21bc18d

A friend is getting married for the second time in late April. I did her first wedding cake (the fondant one with tiny gumpaste flowers, and fondant vines on the bottom tier). Her future husband preferred to hire a pro for the wedding cake, but she wants me to do a small grooms cake like this cake, to serve 20-30:
http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/cars-birthday-cake.html#c4

There are a couple of issues, the first being that I don't own an appropriate stand to use for it, and can't justify buying a center tier stand set for $50-100 for one small cake. I do own the floating tier stand, but I can't detach the top half to use. Any suggestions, or know of a cheaper way to do center column construction? I can't see any other way to do it without making the cake bigger, or building my own stand, which I don't have the skills or tools to do.

The other thing is more of a personal issue, in that this cake would make very little use of my skill in decorating. The sides are done with craft ribbon, and when I suggested icing or fondant alternatives she wants to just "keep it simple and stay with the ribbon. So I'd basically be just sticking stuff on the cake and piping a little grass and some borders.

Any thoughts?

You can always say that you don't want to provide a cake for an event that already has one bc if someone gets sick from eating cake and think that it's mine. You made a wedding cake for her already in the past and if her new hubby doesn't want your services than just enjoy your day and enjoy her wedding.

I'm wondering if I can get away with using just the top 2 tiers of my floating tier stand, and put something over the base, or maybe fabric hanging from the middle part to the table. Any thoughts? This is the stand I own, but this cake would fit on just the top 2 tiers:

Nice stand. I would take a piece of fabric and put tape it around the bottom of the second tier.

I know the picture is a two tier but could you make it into a three tier by taking the topper off, putting maybe two more cars or something simple on the now middle layer and making a tiny (like 4") cake for the top tier and putting the topper and flags on that on the top tier of the stand?

Personally I'm not sure I'd want a cake with that much ribbon around it...

I've just talked her into using these around the sides instead of ribbon, which I think will look a lot better, and won't have to be removed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360367381161?var=630014665568

Thought I'd give an update.

I did do this groom's cake, with several variations from the pic, including using black and white check edible image strips instead of ribbon, and more candy on the sides/borders. I don't have photos online yet, since my camera and computer aren't talking to each other at the moment, but I should have some soon. I used a yard of black fabric to cover the bottom part of the stand below the 2 tiers I was doing, putting it over the middle plate and tucking the ends under the bottom plate, and it looked fine (like it was on a cloth covered pedestal).

Just got the following note in the mail from the bride, along with a check for $50 more than I asked for in payment:

"Dear Magda,
Oh my goodness--thank you! That cake was quite seriously awesome. It drew compliments from everyone, including the caterer and the wedding cake baker. No one could believe that it was done by a hobbyist! I'm sending you a check for more than the $XX you had asked for, because the cake was just that wonderful and delicious. We had the photographer take several photos of it. I'll make sure to send some your way.
Love (bride's name)"

I'm definitely glad I did the cake now!