30 Naked and Semi-Naked Wedding Cakes We Love

The old saying, "It's what's on the inside that counts," certainly applies to the naked wedding cake trend. (No, you don't have to blush at the sound of this dessert. This is one aspect of your wedding day where it's totally acceptable to be in the buff!) Instead of frosting the outside of the cake with layers upon layers of fondant or buttercream, many bakers are increasing the filling between layers, leaving cakes completely or semi-exposed for a fresh (and delicious) look. The naked cake is a cake style that omits the majority of frosting you would typically see on the exterior of a cake; cake layers are baked and stacked with plenty of filling to add flavor and moisture to the cake and served instead without an outer layer of frosting.

Naked cakes rose to popularity in 2013 as more bakers began to offer these creative confections. But this style has been refined and completely elevated over time to present a look that is definitely deserving of a place on your wedding dessert table.

"Most of our clients choose a naked or semi-naked design simply because they love the look, and it fits the rustic or sometimes industrial theme of their venue and wedding reception," Ashley Lattier of Ashley Cakes says.

A semi-naked cake follows the same style as a fully-naked cake but with a bit more frosting. For this style, the baker typically adds a very thin layer of frosting to the cake, scraping the edges to let the cake layers show through for a chic look.

With just as many ways to customize naked wedding cakes as their fully frosted counterparts, you'll be able to work with your baker to achieve a look that reflects your wedding style, whether you're planning a rustic barn wedding, a garden-inspired dinner, or a modern soirée.

Keep in mind that matching your wedding style isn't the only benefit of this cake design. According to Lattier, it may also be the perfect option for those who aren't huge fans of sweets or for the couple looking to cut down on overall cake costs. "We have had clients go with this style because they may not have a big sweet tooth, and obviously with this style of cake, there is less icing," Lattier says. "Pricing is another benefit to this style in a lot of cases. Without having to ice the cake to a smooth finish, your baker will have less time involved in the decoration, which may save some cost."

Ready for some major naked cake inspiration? Here are 30 of our favorites.