AHi. We are having a birthday celebration for our exchange student. My mom asked me If I could make the cake and I had assumed it would just be us so I went and picked up my 8 inch cake pan. Apparently there will be 15-20 people. I don't want to make a 10 inch (I just finished a huge cake for my aunties baby shower and I want something simpler, lol) so I was thinking of doing three layers for the 8 inch. So it would be 6 inches or more, depending on if I'm going to cut each tier in half and fill. Should I cut them (6 pieces in total) and put dowels in the middle so there's "2" cakes? I'm not doing fondant. Just a crumb coat of buttercream and then another layer. The middle will have chocolate pudding/whip cream. Or will the three 2 inch layers be fine stacked just like that?

AAn 8X4 cake has 20 party servings. You're good.

http://www.wilton.com/cakes/making-cakes/baking-party-cake-2-inch-pans.cfm