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  6. 30 Naked Cakes for Your Wedding
Martha Stewart Weddings

30 Naked Cakes for Your Wedding

emily-platt-contributor-0616.jpg
By Emily Platt Updated August 26, 2020
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Credit: Michael Radford

See the best renditions of the exposed wedding cake trend, from bare desserts to half-dressed confections.

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<p>The naked wedding cake: It's a trend that's clearly here to stay, as couples and their bakers are forgoing an outer layer of icing in favor of an unfrosted confection that looks just as good as it tastes. If you're not a fan of the traditional three-tiered white wedding cake, this big-day dessert alternative might just be for you.</p> <p>As these naked wedding cake ideas will show, there's a style for every celebration, whether you're after a naked rustic wedding cake or a modern one featuring unexpected flavors.  Naked wedding cakes aren't all about looks and taste, though. There's actually a serious benefit to choosing an unfrosted confection, and that's freshness.</p> <p>Because frosting locks in moisture, a baker is able to whip up a traditional wedding cake in advance of the big day, then add the finishing touches right before delivery. That's not the case with an exposed wedding cake, which needs to be baked relatively close in time to the reception to ensure each layer is fresh, moist, and delicious. That means your pro will likely pop your tiers into the oven the night before or even the day of your nuptials. Nothing beats a cake baked just hours before it's eaten, right? </p> <p>Whatever your reason for choosing one, you'll soon see that bare wedding cakes can be chic, sophisticated, and beautiful&mdash;not too sweet, but just sweet enough. Click through to see some of our favorite examples, starting with this stunning half-dressed wedding cake (topped with lemons and limes) by Lel&eacute; P&acirc;tisserie.</p>
Credit: Michael Radford

The naked wedding cake: It's a trend that's clearly here to stay, as couples and their bakers are forgoing an outer layer of icing in favor of an unfrosted confection that looks just as good as it tastes. If you're not a fan of the traditional three-tiered white wedding cake, this big-day dessert alternative might just be for you.

As these naked wedding cake ideas will show, there's a style for every celebration, whether you're after a naked rustic wedding cake or a modern one featuring unexpected flavors.  Naked wedding cakes aren't all about looks and taste, though. There's actually a serious benefit to choosing an unfrosted confection, and that's freshness.

Because frosting locks in moisture, a baker is able to whip up a traditional wedding cake in advance of the big day, then add the finishing touches right before delivery. That's not the case with an exposed wedding cake, which needs to be baked relatively close in time to the reception to ensure each layer is fresh, moist, and delicious. That means your pro will likely pop your tiers into the oven the night before or even the day of your nuptials. Nothing beats a cake baked just hours before it's eaten, right? 

Whatever your reason for choosing one, you'll soon see that bare wedding cakes can be chic, sophisticated, and beautiful—not too sweet, but just sweet enough. Click through to see some of our favorite examples, starting with this stunning half-dressed wedding cake (topped with lemons and limes) by Lelé Pâtisserie.

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Naked Cake with Seasonal Fruit

partially naked wedding cake with fruit and floral decorations
Credit: The de Jaureguis

The couple chose a four-tier naked cake, made of honey pistachio and raspberry almond cake layers. Meanwhile, it was layered with vanilla buttercream and finished with gold leaf and seasonal fruit. 

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Semi-Naked Cake

simple almost naked wedding cake with white flowers
Credit: Larissa Cleveland

Flour and Bloom Cakes created this almond cake adorned with flowers that featured an "anniversary" layer of vanilla with almond buttercream and marzipan for the couple to enjoy on their first wedding anniversary.

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Naked Wedding Cake with Berries

<p>Why cover up your cake's interior when it's as pretty as this strawberry one's was?</p>
Credit: Julie Paisley Photography
The Sweetest Ways to Use Berries Throughout Your Entire Wedding

Why cover up your cake's interior when it's as pretty as this strawberry one's was?

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Naked Wedding Cake with Succulents

<p>Smilf star Frankie Shaw's raspberry-and-cream-filled naked wedding cake (complete with a gluten-free top tier!) was decked out in succulents. Fleur de Lisa made the dessert.</p>
Credit: Hannah Arista Photography

Smilf star Frankie Shaw's raspberry-and-cream-filled naked wedding cake (complete with a gluten-free top tier!) was decked out in succulents. Fleur de Lisa made the dessert.

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Half-Naked Wedding Cake

naked wedding cakes half frosted
Credit: D'Arcy Benicosa Photography

Can't decide between a naked and frosted cake? With this stunning drip sweet, Pippa Cakery proved that you can have the best of both worlds.

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Three-Tiered Naked Wedding Cake

<p>Clue guests in on the flavor of each of your tiers. This delicious Maliha Creations trifecta included red velvet, vanilla, and chocolate cake.</p>
Credit: Eric Kelley for Easton Events

Clue guests in on the flavor of each of your tiers. This delicious Maliha Creations trifecta included red velvet, vanilla, and chocolate cake.

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Colorful Naked Wedding Cake

<p>Show off those sprinkles! This one-tiered naked wedding cake (by Belmond El Encanto) put the "fun" in "Funfetti."</p>
Credit: Annie McElwain and Raya Carlisle

Show off those sprinkles! This one-tiered naked wedding cake (by Belmond El Encanto) put the "fun" in "Funfetti."

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Four-Tiered Naked Wedding Cake

<p>The groom admitted that he thought about this semi-naked Layered banana cake (complete with chocolate-ganache filling) long after his wedding day.</p>
Credit: Apryl Ann Photography

The groom admitted that he thought about this semi-naked Layered banana cake (complete with chocolate-ganache filling) long after his wedding day.

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Croquembouche

nancy sangho wedding reception cake couple
Credit: Branco Prata

This couple opted for a traditional French croquembouche dessert as their wedding cake. 

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Tropical Naked Wedding Cake

<p>A nearly-naked design let this Victoria Zoch confection's bright orange flowers do all the talking.</p>
Credit: Audra Wrisley Photography

A nearly-naked design let this Victoria Zoch confection's bright orange flowers do all the talking.

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Naked Wedding Cake with Pastel Flowers

light pink wedding cake with flowers
Credit: Kerry Jeanne Photography

Upcountry Creations made this beautiful, light-hued flower-filled naked cake. The three tiers were actually made of carrot cake, at the bride's request. 

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Fern Naked Wedding Cake

<p>Our mouths are watering just looking as this decadent naked cake. Sticky Spatula baked the dessert, which was covered in foliage.</p>
Credit: Jordan Brittley
36 Ways to Use Leaves Throughout Your Wedding

Our mouths are watering just looking as this decadent naked cake. Sticky Spatula baked the dessert, which was covered in foliage.

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Mostly-Frosted Wedding Cake

<p>Ojai Valley Inn designed this couple's cake&mdash;which featured dulce de leche and caramel chocolate-mousse flavors&mdash;with enough icing to almost fully coat it.</p>
Credit: Amy & Stuart Photography

Ojai Valley Inn designed this couple's cake—which featured dulce de leche and caramel chocolate-mousse flavors—with enough icing to almost fully coat it.

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Mille Crepe Cake

peach colored wedding cakes
Credit: Stetten Wilson
Eight Wedding Cake Flavors You Haven't Tried Yet

These Lady M's Mille Crepe cakes were decorated with fresh florals for a unique take on naked wedding cakes. 

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Naked Sponge Wedding Cake

<p>This lemon slice-topped naked cake didn't need any outside icing&mdash;it had plenty between its sponge layers!</p>
Credit: Kylie Martin Photography

This lemon slice-topped naked cake didn't need any outside icing—it had plenty between its sponge layers!

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Naked Wedding Cake with Fruit

<p>Romanov Catering decorated this naked dessert with cherries, blooms, and ornamental berries.</p>
Credit: Thecablook Fotolab

Romanov Catering decorated this naked dessert with cherries, blooms, and ornamental berries.

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Naked Bundt Wedding Cakes

<p>Consider choosing a type of cake that's typically undressed, like these Matchbox Kitchen Bundt cakes.</p>
Credit: Twah Dougherty

Consider choosing a type of cake that's typically undressed, like these Matchbox Kitchen Bundt cakes.

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Naked Bridal Shower Cake

margo-me-bridal-shower-cake-7280-s112194-0515.jpg
Credit: Jana Williams

Naked cakes aren't just for weddings—you can serve them at pre-wedding events, too. For example, guests savored this triple-berry sweet at Margo & Me blogger Jenny Bernheim's bridal shower. 

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Chrissy Teigen and John Legend's Naked Wedding Cake

wedding-cake-delesie0143-mwds110843.jpg
Credit: Aaron Delesie

For their Italian nuptials, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen chose this four-tiered carrot cake by AFM Banqueting, layered with cream cheese frosting.

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Single Layer Naked Cake

bride and groom cutting wedding cake at reception
Credit: Laura Ford Photography

The bride and groom opted for an olive oil cake for their wedding. This unfrosted cake was topped with powdered sugar for a sweet treat. 

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Iced Layers Naked Wedding Cake

Natasja and Rob wedding cake
Credit: Elias Kordelakos

Alexandra's Cakes created this tasty, beautiful lemon layer cake. 

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Semi-Naked Wedding Cake

<p>A friend of the couple baked this cute dessert, which boasted tiers that were only partially frosted.</p>
Credit: Jenna McElroy Photography

A friend of the couple baked this cute dessert, which boasted tiers that were only partially frosted.

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Naked Drip Wedding Cake

susan-cartter-wedding-cake-008440015-s111503-0914.jpg
Credit: Odalys Mendez

This bride and groom chose a naked cake with icing dripping down the sides, made by Classic City Confections, for their Georgia wedding.

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Naked Italian Wedding Cake

tiffany-nicholas-wedding-cake-127-s111339-0714.jpg
Credit: O'Malley Photographers

Devil's Thumb Ranch decorated this couple's tiered wedding cake to look like millefoglie, the traditional wedding cake of Italy.

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Short Naked Wedding Cake

brooke-shea-wedding-172-d111277.jpg
Credit: Rachel Thurston

Sweet Layers Cakes & Pastries may have baked this cake, but according to the bride, it was designed to look DIY. 

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Naked Wedding Cake with Flowers

atalia-raul-wedding-cake-106-s112395-1215.jpg
Credit: Dana Fernandez

This large naked-style blueberry-lemon cake by Buttercup Bakery boasted bright crowns of fresh flowers.

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Fun Naked Wedding Cake

vanessa-joe-wedding-cake-7938-s111736-1214.jpg
Credit: Delbarr Moradi

Each reception table at this wedding was set with sweets, including this Momofuku Milk Bar birthday cake. The couple encouraged guests to dig in to the desserts before the meal even started.

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Simple Naked Wedding Cake

lizzy-pat-wedding-cake-171-s111777-0115.jpg
Credit: Erin Kate Photography

This bride and groom cut into a small, naked vanilla-and-berry cake from Le Loup.

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Naked Wedding Cake with Peonies

david-tyler-real-wedding-naked-floral-cake.jpg
Credit: Ryan Ray Photography

This bride had her heart set on a naked caked topped with fresh flowers, and we can see why! Her spiced-carrot confection by Cakewalk Bake Shop was so pretty.

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Naked Wedding Cake with Roses

stephanie-mike-wedding-north-carolina-naked-cake-flowers-75-s112048.jpg
Credit: Heather Payne

This lemon cake—the bride's favorite flavor—was decorated with with buttercream and spray roses.

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    1 of 31
    2 of 31 Naked Cake with Seasonal Fruit
    3 of 31 Semi-Naked Cake
    4 of 31 Naked Wedding Cake with Berries
    5 of 31 Naked Wedding Cake with Succulents
    6 of 31 Half-Naked Wedding Cake
    7 of 31 Three-Tiered Naked Wedding Cake
    8 of 31 Colorful Naked Wedding Cake
    9 of 31 Four-Tiered Naked Wedding Cake
    10 of 31 Croquembouche
    11 of 31 Tropical Naked Wedding Cake
    12 of 31 Naked Wedding Cake with Pastel Flowers
    13 of 31 Fern Naked Wedding Cake
    14 of 31 Mostly-Frosted Wedding Cake
    15 of 31 Mille Crepe Cake
    16 of 31 Naked Sponge Wedding Cake
    17 of 31 Naked Wedding Cake with Fruit
    18 of 31 Naked Bundt Wedding Cakes
    19 of 31 Naked Bridal Shower Cake
    20 of 31 Chrissy Teigen and John Legend's Naked Wedding Cake
    21 of 31 Single Layer Naked Cake
    22 of 31 Iced Layers Naked Wedding Cake
    23 of 31 Semi-Naked Wedding Cake
    24 of 31 Naked Drip Wedding Cake
    25 of 31 Naked Italian Wedding Cake
    26 of 31 Short Naked Wedding Cake
    27 of 31 Naked Wedding Cake with Flowers
    28 of 31 Fun Naked Wedding Cake
    29 of 31 Simple Naked Wedding Cake
    30 of 31 Naked Wedding Cake with Peonies
    31 of 31 Naked Wedding Cake with Roses

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