Can someone please tell me why cake stands and toppers are so darn expensive?

Yes that's why we skipped both. We didn't miss them at all and either did anyone else

I think it really depends on what you want and whether you are willing to look around for something not strictly "wedding." H and I used kissing zebra salt and pepper shakers- they were about $15, and now after the wedding we can use them for their original purpose! I would say after the wedding, your topper would probably make a cute decoration. (:

Try Etsy, I've seen a lot of cute toppers there for very inexpensive.

Nope, I keep hearing about this, but where/what are y'all looking for? Mine was 20 bucks, but frankly you could put two pinecones on top of the cake and it's be "kitsch" so....

You could just use flowers instead.

Thanks ladies! I just wanted a regular silver cake stand and a regular "M" topper, and its like very expensive. I was just taken back.

LOL I have literally spent my entire day looking for a cheap cake stand that will get here ASAP. I did make one, but I think the shells I glued to it will prevent the cake from easily sliding onto the stand.

I was just looking at a DIY on the Michael's website. Spray paint a short wooden candle stick and glue it to a colourful plate. I might do that.

Beth, that's a super clever idea!

I might just use some of y'all ideas and tweak them for my own.

@Nicole, I was so happy when I found them. I was like, these are cheap, adorable, AND have a use after the wedding! Sold!

We are not doing a cake stand, we could have rented one from our bakery for $35. It seemed unnecessary, so we skipped it. I did find a lot of affordable cake toppers on Etsy. It just depends on what you want. I ended up going with a blingy initial cake topper (from BlingShirtWorld on Etsy) only $14 and free shipping. I did see others for around $50 that were a bit fancier script and were silver plated, but I didn't think that was necessary. I haven't received it yet so I can't say for myself if it was a good purchase yet as I just ordered it this weekend, but they had pretty good reviews. It looked nicer than the cheap ones from Michael's anyway.

Check like ACMoore or Michaels. They have a good selection of inexpensive ones. I believe I even saw initial cake toppers at Walmart.

Also check with your venue about a stand. Mine provided one.

@VM- Very true! I thought about using two at the bottom (the short ones). I wonder if that would be better.

I don't really want one, but were only doing a 6" and it will get lost in the sea cupcakes if I don't elevate it a little.

We're skipping the cake topper and our venue supplies a cake stand I like. Yay, two less things to worry about!

I will check Walmart. I didn't think of them.

I got a monogram topper from Amazon for $10. Didn't even look into a stand, maybe I should lol

I skipped getting a cake stand. My sister is making the cake and said that we would just use the cardboard base and it would be fine. For a 20" cake stands were whoa, really expensive. My cake topper is a vintage bride and groom that I got for like 12 bucks plus shipping on ETSY.

@Melanie - Three would be best for balance.

I am going to look at Walmart and Michael's and if I can't find any cheaper there, I will cancel my order and go without a stand because, that's too much money for something I will never have use for again.