It’s been reported that in 2015, the average cost of a wedding cake for 150 people is between $445-$631. For the most part, wedding cakes are generally frosted and refined, but the trend has changed a little as of late. At Imperial Event Venue, we have been seeing many brides and grooms opting for unfrosted wedding cakes, also called naked cakes. A naked cake is a cake without icing, which offers a more natural and organic feel. Naked cakes allow the filling between each cake layer to show. These cakes can be beautifully topped with lush flowers and delicious fruit, such as berries. Even celebrities, including Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, have had naked cakes at their weddings.
Aside from being unique, naked cakes can be budget friendly as well, since wedding cakes that are decorated with icing or fondant are more labor-intensive. Even though the ingredients of a cake for the most part are the same, the cost of a cake comes from the time it takes to assemble the layers and decorate the cake.
The naked cake trend was sparked by pastry chef Christina Tosi, the owner of Momofuku Milk Bar. She is known for her whimsical approach to baked goods. Her wedding cakes feature flavors such as salted pretzel and “birthday cake.” Sounds tasty!
A few things to keep in mind when choosing a naked cake for your wedding, or any event (after all, every occasion calls for cake):
Keep it real
Naked cakes are beautiful because of their natural feel, so stick to natural stylings such as fresh fruit and flowers. Also, you can match the style of your cake with the overall style of your wedding.
Late assembly
Naked cakes dry out much quicker than cakes with frosting or fondant. Most cake studios stack the cake no earlier than 24 hours before the event, while some bakers even stack the cake at the banquette hall itself.
Timing is key
It’s not advisable to have the cake on display for more than 3-4 hours, or even less if it’s in a hot or humid environment. An indoor venue is the ideal location to have this type of wedding cake. It’s not recommended to have a naked cake outside during the summer high-heat months.
Go big
Bakeries recommend getting the cake a little bit larger than you need it to be, so if there is severe drying of the cake, the edges can be discarded and not a single guest will notice. Trust us!
Here’s a beautiful example of a naked cake at a wedding:
