30 Naked Cakes for Your Wedding

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.

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. 

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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. 

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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. 

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

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. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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