Prepare and bake cupcakes according to box directions (I made homemade red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting). You need 30 cupcakes to make the dress. You will have leftover cupcakes as each box makes 24 cupcakes.

Arrange cupcakes on the cake board to create a wedding dress shape. Starting at the bottom of the board, place 5 cupcakes in a row, place 5 cupcakes in the next row, place 4 cupcakes in the next row, followed by 3 cupcakes in the next two rows, 2 cupcakes in the next three rows, and finally, add 2 cupcakes on each side for the sleeves (see photo).

Once cupcakes are aligned, pipe a dot of icing under each cupcake to prevent them from moving/shifting, allowing the dress to hold its shape.

Pipe the top of each cupcake with frosting. Once each cupcake is frosted, fill the spaces between each cupcake with frosting (I piped stars to fill the spaces). Sprinkle sparkling sugar over the entire “cake.”

Finally, add your belt and broche to complete your wedding dress!