I wrote a blog a few months ago, all about the Naked Wedding Cake phenomenon that took over Wedding Cake designs around 2015, but I thought I’d update the hints and tips I mentioned before, as the Naked Wedding Cake idea has shifted sideways a little and I wanted to give you some fresh ideas. You can read the last blog here for some inspiration >> CLICK HERE

I am excited to say that couples are being drawn to the ‘Semi Naked’ style of Wedding Cake, which is a brilliant move in my opinion for several reasons, which I’ll explain later in this blog.

Semi Naked Wedding Cake with fresh flower arrangements at The Carriage Hall

What is the difference between Naked and Semi-Naked Wedding Cakes?

Let me explain the differences between a Naked and a Semi Naked Wedding Cake, in case you’re confused

A Naked Cake is just that…. Naked!

All of the layers are visible, the fillings and sponges are open to the elements, but that’s the beauty of the design for some couples, especially those who don’t like the taste of traditional icing.

Naked Wedding Cake at The Vicarage Boutique Hotel

A Semi Naked Wedding cake has a layer of buttercream coating to the outer surface.

The thickness of this buttercream layer can differ to meet each couple’s personal choice.Scraped back to a minimum or thicker, with some areas of the sponge beneath visible as part of the overall design, even this simplistic style has plenty of choices to think abou,t to ensure you get the best look for your style of wedding.

Semi Naked Wedding Cake with silk flowers & Moon Arch at Shottle Hall

The biggest consideration when choosing to go naked or semi-naked

There is one big thing to be aware of if you go fully naked (oh er!) and that is about how long your cake will be displayed because the longer it is out on display, the drier it will become because of the way the cake is made up. Let me explain.

As well as the visual differences, the addition of a layer of buttercream that creates the Semi Naked look has other benefits when it comes to displaying your Wedding Cake, and the final taste.

With a semi-naked cake, the buttercream coating acts like a barrier to the air. It helps to keep the moisture of the sponge where it’s most important… in the cake!  By its own nature, a Naked Cake doesn’t have this protection from the elements because there is nothing covering the sponge, causing it to dry out if it’s displayed for too long, which doesn’t give the best impression when it’s eaten. With a semi-naked cake, a buttercream coating will crust, but that’s another taste sensation for your guests to enjoy really. This shouldn’t necessarily put your off having a naked cake, but it is something to be considered if you are planning on having your cake out on display for the day.

Semi Naked Wedding Cake with sugar flower arrangements & resin cake topper at The Carriage Hall

 

Let’s talk decorative style next

The decorative style for both Naked and Semi Naked Wedding Cakes is very much the same.

Fresh flowers always make a fabulous display on any cake, but they seem to suit the Naked & Semi Naked style wedding cakes to perfection. A full floral cascade or smaller, more delicate, perfectly placed arrangements look stunning  and can be designed to match your colour scheme and bouquet choice.

Let’s talk flavours and the visual impact 

One huge tip to share with you when designing your Semi Naked Wedding Cake is your flavour choices.

Let’s say you want a dark chocolate layer in your cake. The colour of the sponge would mean that you would have a dark layer in the visual look of the cake, which will have a huge impact on the way the cake looks. 

Having the dark parts peeping out from under the buttercream layer also makes that sponge look burnt… not the sort of impression you want to give!

With this in mind, I like to steer my couples away from this choice, or look about how we can build it in as part of the intentional design.

But don’t worry if your dream wedding cake includes a chocolate tier, as we can always do a ‘cutting cake’ for you, which goes straight to the kitchen at your Venue, solely to be cut and served as part of your evening buffet, which is generally when the rest of your cake is offered to guests.

Semi Naked Wedding Cake with Moon Arch at The Nottinghamshire

Naked and Semi Naked cakes may look simple, as most people see that with them not having a traditional iced surface, or time consuming decorations, they don’t take long to put together.

In reality, it’s quite the opposite, as the making and construction of Naked and Semi Naked Wedding Cakes need to be very last minute to ensure that everything is fresh for you and your guests to enjoy on the day and afterwards too… if there’s any left of course!

Any fresh flowers used to decorate the cake also need to be in perfect condition, so are usually arranged as the cake is delivered and set in place. [Read the blog about using flowers on your cake here .

Thoughts of a cake designer

For me, semi-naked wins every time. I think the layer of buttercream makes the cake look more like a Wedding Cake. Whether it’s a thin smear, leaving lots of visible sponge beneath, or a thick, luscious layer, the pale coating gives the whole design a cohesive, elegant look.

I even have a magic trick that makes the buttercream whiter. By its nature, buttercream has a yellow tinge to it, which isn’t the best background for a lot of colours, so it’s possible to tone this outer layer down, giving a whiteness to the coating and a more pleasing finish to your Wedding Cake.

Buttercream coated Wedding Cake with sugar flower cascade 

My last blog described the difference between using fresh, silk or sugar flowers on Wedding Cakes, which will hopefully help you with the decoration options available to you. http://www.icedandspliced.com/flowersonyourweddingcake/

But I’m always happy to chat through ideas and make suggestions that will result in you having the Wedding Cake you’ve always dreamed of

Drop me an email, or a message through social media, whichever is easier for you. I’m here to help in any way I can.

Jo

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