Custom Cake Topper Guide: Choosing, Placement & Keepsake Care

A custom cake topper brings your celebration together, but the best result starts before decorating day. Choose a size that works with your cake, plan placement with your baker, and handle your topper gently so you can keep it after the celebration.

Choose a charm or a topper

For a smaller decorative detail, explore our Custom Cake Charm. Charm sizes range from 2–5 inches, and the selected size can refer to length or width. Specify the dimension you mean when ordering. A stick is an additional option, not automatically included with a charm.

For a statement above the cake, explore our Custom Cake Topper (1 layer). This option uses one color. Metallic versions are one-sided with a gray backing; ask about availability and the additional charge if you need a two-sided metallic finish.

A simple size-selection checklist

• Ask your baker for the width of the finished top tier and the usable decorating space.
• Measure the area left after flowers, candles, fruit, and other decorations are planned.
• Cut a paper mock-up of your preferred topper width and height. Hold it above a cake-size outline to check the proportions.
• Confirm whether your ordered measurement means width or height. Allow for tall lettering and decorative shapes.
• Share the design and desired position with your baker. Ask them to assess its weight, attachment, and support needs before you finalize the size.
• Double-check spelling, event date, color, viewing direction, and whether you need a stick.

There is no single topper size that suits every cake. A larger design can look great, but its weight and the cake's structure matter as much as its appearance.

Coordinate with your baker before the event

Send your baker the topper's dimensions, a design preview, and any available weight and attachment details. Mention the cake style, planned decorations, transport arrangements, and when the topper will be added. Let the baker choose the placement and any support system appropriate for their cake.

Ask: “Can this cake support this topper at the position I want? Does it need a separate support arrangement? Should you install it at the venue?” Do not assume that pushing a heavy topper deeper into the cake will make it secure.

Confirm food-contact suitability for the exact topper, stick, finish, and any attachment before use. Appearance alone does not establish food-contact suitability. If that information is unavailable, do not place the unverified component in or against the cake; ask your baker about an appropriate alternative display or verified food-contact separation arrangement.

Placement steps for decorating day

1. Inspect before handling. Check for cracks, loose attachments, or damage. Do not install a damaged topper.
2. Agree on the position. Check the front-facing direction and clearances with the baker before touching the cake. Leave room around flowers and candles, and keep the topper clear of flames and heat.
3. Have the baker prepare support. The baker should decide whether the cake needs additional support and install any suitable food-contact components. A decorative stick is not proof that a heavy design is adequately supported.
4. Handle near the base. Support the solid area near the stem or attachment. Do not press on delicate lettering, bend the topper, twist it into place, or force it through resistance.
5. Check stability. If the topper leans, sinks, or moves, stop and have the baker revise the arrangement. Do not keep pushing or improvise with craft glue or unverified attachments.
6. Plan transport and removal. Ask the baker whether the topper should travel separately and be installed at the venue. Before cutting the cake, have a responsible adult remove the topper and account for any separate supports.

After the celebration: cleaning and storage

Keep the packaging and any care instructions supplied with your order. Acrylic toppers may have different finishes, decoration, or attached parts, so a cleaning method suitable for one design may not suit another.

We have not verified a cleaning method for these specific products here. Before washing, soaking, wiping with a cleaner, or putting a topper in a dishwasher, request care instructions for your exact material and finish from Krafts by the Ocean VI. If icing remains, ask for those instructions before attempting to remove it. Do not assume cleaning makes a topper suitable for future food contact.

Once the topper is free of residue and fully dry according to its verified care instructions, store it flat in a rigid box with a soft, non-abrasive protective lining. Protect delicate lettering and the stem from pressure, and do not stack heavy items on top. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat. Keep small pieces and pointed stems out of children's reach.

Ready to plan your custom detail?

Start with the Custom Cake Charm for a smaller accent or the Custom Cake Topper (1 layer) for a one-color statement or even the 2 layer or multi-layered options. Bring your measurements and your baker's placement plan, and confirm the current turnaround time before ordering for your event.