The standard designs of wedding cakes from years past featured independently separated cakes. These cakes were separated by a system of plates and pillars. The pillars were either of Grecian design or Swan style. Perhaps you’ve seen cakes that had three or four separations, with cake sizes that ranged from eight to fourteen inches.
The bottom tier which would be the largest cake at fourteen inches may have been situated on the top of a fountain stand. In between the fountain stand could be a water fountain, with three cascades, and interior lights plus running water which was possibly tinted with color. On the very top of the smallest cake, the eight inch in this example, would sit a plastic bride plus a groom ornament. The cake itself would have had roses, pearl beading, foil silver or gold leaves, and so forth.