I think I've created a potential awkward moment by getting a cake

[Kayemm]

Dh is retiring this week and on Saturday all the family are meeting up for a meal at a restaurant.

I've ordered a cake which says (unoriginal!) Happy Retirement.

I have visions of the waiting staff bringing this in and awkwardness descends. No singing, no candles, just a strange situation.

Any ideas for rescuing this? Or do I just keep quiet and eat it all myself 😍

Just get everyone to sing “happy retirement to yooooou”

I would let them bring it out, and just present it to
him.

Why is that awkward? They’re just bringing a cake. Is it a desserty style one?

You are probably overthinking this!

It would be much weirder if there WERE candles, surely?
What you’ve described just sounds like they’re basically bringing out a big pudding. So no one else will particularly notice.
I wouldn’t worry about it. Sounds like a nice idea.

You have put sparklers in the cake, they will light up and go out themselves.
You could sing " For he's a jolly good fellow " if you wanted to, or simply clap.

That's not awkward! Completely normal. They will bring it out, he will say "oh look at this! Thank you" and that's it. Is the restaurant going to cut it up and serve it there?

I'm sure everyone else that's with you both will get onboard and start clapping or cheering. It's a lovely thing to do, so try and enjoy it.

cake out, shout hip hip hoary .

It’s fine! I’d add sparklers.

Ask the waiting staff to please bring the cake before they start to take dessert orders. Get them to pop it in front of him - a couple of rounds of 'For He's a Jolly Good Fellow' then ask who wants cake!

hahaha! Hoary!!! (means old and grey with age; extremely old, ancient ...)

Maybe go for:
Hooray!!

Fountain candles just for a bit of added drama, whilst everyone sings “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”.

It has the potential to be awkward but I think if you did a cheers with your glasses as soon as it’s put in front of him with a ‘Happy Retirement’ it’ll quickly fill the awkwardness, they a quick photo and ask who wants some. Just keep the momentum flowing.

Careful not to set fire alarms off!

Eat it yourself.

Now you have permission, which I suspect is what you really wanted.

Why don’t you bring it out? Then it’s less of a formal thing…

Make it a whole scene, just to be safe. Have them massive sparkler candles on it, get the staff to sing happy birthday even though hes retiring, get him a badge, a hat, maybe even a sash, too. Start clapping when they finish singing and encourage the whole restaurant to commence clapping, as well. Don't forget hip hip, hooray!

Aye you need sparklers like the old school Pancake House birthday party.

You tend to only get one chance to make a fuss and you don’t want to look back and think it was a bit of a damp squib. If you start singing ‘haaaa….’ As if to sing happy birthday everyone will know to turn it into happy retirement!

Why sing? That’s embarrassing! Just have them bring it out and you make a short speech about how proud you are blah blah and then all raise your glasses to the man then cut it up. It doesn’t have to be some big performance.

I think that you should just take it with you and get it out after they’ve finished eating it isn’t really a waiter brings it out type thing. Enjoy!

What a lovely thing to do! Ask the restaurant to play Dolly working 9 to 5 🤣🤣 or Congratulations Cliff Richards.

Just say, happy retirement darling! Here's to the start of the rest of your life! Then youve taken control of the situation and its done.

I would totally pull up something like 9-5 on my phone! We normally do cringe things like that though.

Check that the restaurant allow s you to eat your own bought cake there, if you intend to cut it. Several pubs around our area won't allow you to consume your own cake on their premises for health and safety reasons. 😉