30 Naked Cakes for Your Wedding

By Emily Platt
Updated August 26, 2020
Credit: Michael Radford

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

Start Slideshow

1 of 31

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 31

Naked Cake with Seasonal Fruit

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. 

3 of 31

Semi-Naked Cake

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.

Advertisement

4 of 31

Naked Wedding Cake with Berries

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?

5 of 31

Naked Wedding Cake with Succulents

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.

6 of 31

Half-Naked Wedding Cake

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 31

Three-Tiered Naked Wedding Cake

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.

8 of 31

Colorful Naked Wedding Cake

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."

9 of 31

Four-Tiered Naked Wedding Cake

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 31

Croquembouche

Credit: Branco Prata

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

11 of 31

Tropical Naked Wedding Cake

Credit: Audra Wrisley Photography

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

12 of 31

Naked Wedding Cake with Pastel 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. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 31

Fern Naked Wedding Cake

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.

14 of 31

Mostly-Frosted Wedding Cake

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.

15 of 31

Mille Crepe Cake

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. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 31

Naked Sponge Wedding Cake

Credit: Kylie Martin Photography

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

17 of 31

Naked Wedding Cake with Fruit

Credit: Thecablook Fotolab

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

18 of 31

Naked Bundt Wedding Cakes

Credit: Twah Dougherty

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 31

Naked Bridal Shower Cake

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. 

20 of 31

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend's Naked Wedding Cake

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.

21 of 31

Single Layer Naked Cake

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. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 31

Iced Layers Naked Wedding Cake

Credit: Elias Kordelakos

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

23 of 31

Semi-Naked Wedding Cake

Credit: Jenna McElroy Photography

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

24 of 31

Naked Drip Wedding Cake

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 31

Naked Italian Wedding Cake

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.

26 of 31

Short Naked Wedding Cake

Credit: Rachel Thurston

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

27 of 31

Naked Wedding Cake with Flowers

Credit: Dana Fernandez

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 31

Fun Naked Wedding Cake

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.

29 of 31