A guy my husband works with wants a cake for his wifes 50th birthday. Shes kind of sensitive about turning 50, so he doesnt want anything over the hill or anything. But something classic and elegant. Her favorite flowers are tulips and roses.

She collects crosses, so he wants a cake in the shape of a cross with scrollwork and a pile of flowers in the center. Does this scream funeral to anyone else? To me, this almost seems like an underhanded over the hill thing Just wondering what other people think before I tell him that maybe a cross cake isnt such a good idea.

My other thought was to do a gift box with the lid half off and a fondant or chocolate cross inside, like hes giving her something for her collection, KWIM?

I like the idea of the gift box. I dont think the cross shaped cake is the way to go. Is she catholic? If so you could do a rosary on the cake.

It's beyond weird it's morbid!

I would explain how cross cakes are usually for religious occasions or funerals and you're concerned it send the wrong message to make one as a birthday cake. Then give suggestions. I like your giftbox idea. Let us know how it goes

Definitely screams funeral to me LOL. I think the gift box idea is perfect. I would definitely suggest that to him.

I can't decide if it says "funeral" or "baby's christening" to me. Either way, not the idea he's looking for. I like the gift box idea too. Maybe use the flowers to decorate it somehow too.

LOL. If he doesn't want her to think too old then I wonder how she'll take a funeral cake, cause thats what I think of too. Pitch him some of your ideas, they sound good. I'm sure he'll like them much better.

This is roses and peonies, with a beautiful cross... It screams wedding and romance to me, a nice thing for a husband to give a wife on her 50th.

The large size picture.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_08kHzN1800I/SbUvY9sziOI/AAAAAAAAA-o/SkejbFk1OD8/s1600/CM_006.jpg

Not that looks pretty, but a big cross cake with a pile of flowers in the center, that looks like funeral arrangement. You also got to see if their Catholic, she may not want a rosary.

They are Baptist, so no rosaries... I am glad to hear other people think a cross cake is not appropriate. with a cross cake I usually think baptism, but for a 50th birthday cake, I would think it meant funeral. I know the party and the cake are a surprise, so I don't want her running out crying because she thinks he's calling her old!

You definitely want to make the cross a small item on the cake. It would be more interesting to need to look for it, a special little detail.