Gloria and Her Wedding Desk, 1951

An African American photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Handwritten note on the back of this photo: "Gloria . . . and her wedding desk, Met. Life Ins., Oct. 1951."

This "wedding desk" seems to be part of a bridal shower for Gloria in a Metropolitan Life Insurance Company office in 1951. It appears to be taking place in a large open room with other desks and people in the background and fluorescent lights overhead.

The bride-to-be is wearing a corsage, there are a couple of roses in a vase on the desk, and additional flowers decorate the trellis that serves as a backdrop. On the desk itself are what I assume to be gifts--bowls, a shiny electric appliance of some sort (a waffle maker or roaster, perhaps?), a clock, a knife set, and an opened box of chocolate candies (mouse over the image above for a close-up view of the desktop). It looks like Gloria is tasting something that was prepared in the pan in front of her, which may also have been a gift.

Has anyone else ever heard of a workplace bridal shower referred to as a "wedding desk"?