Not even COVID can stop love
A year ago when the country shut down, many people were either canceling their weddings or rushing to find a new date for what is now this year. With Gov. Tate Reeves, lifting restrictions, especially for outdoor functions, more events are being scheduled and held at capacity.
However, in Starkville, local businesses did not suffer too much from weddings being rescheduled or made to be Covid-compliant, which means masked up and social distanced. On one hand some people may think being locked up with your significant other will drive someone crazy, but in other cases, it drives couples closer together.
Robin Montgomery, the co-owner of Montgomery’s Jewelry on Main Street, said they’ve never really stopped selling jewelry and this past Christmas was one of their busiest yet.
“We were maybe slow the first week after we reopened, and then after that, we weren’t slow at all,” Montgomery said. “There’s not a jewelry store in Columbus or Louisville, so we’re getting a lot of those clients. We had our busiest Christmas this year than we’ve ever had, and we’ve been in business for 75 years. I think, also, because we have so many people here and we strive to be friendly to anybody, it doesn’t matter who you are, I think that makes a big impact on people, and they tell other people.”
Marianna Harris, an employee at Montgomery’s Jew
elry, attributed high jewelry sales as some people’s alternative to spending money on a vacation.
“A lot of people would come in and tell us instead of going on vacation, they were getting jewelry,” Harris said. “So they were spending money to get stuff like that. It also helps that we’re very family based. Robin and Woody own it, Michelle has been here 40 years, and my parents got their rings here. Robin and
Woody’s daughter went to their wedding, and now I’m here. It’s very family based and it’s a good atmosphere to work in and for customers.”
Jewelry sales have not stopped for the pandemic in Starkville, except the two weeks Gov. Reeves said to close. The same can be said for dresses. Karol Crowder from It’s A Date & The Tuxedo Shop on North Montgomery said business has not stopped for her.
“I’ve had business all throughout 2020,” Crowder said. “Weddings aren’t stopping and there are venues that allow people to be able to socially distance. Most people just have to cut down on the size of the people invited.”
Many people are adjusting to the times and not letting the pandemic get in their way. Some people have had to adapt and still move forward with weddings because of the conditions of certain important family members, and some people simply cannot reschedule for reasons like not being able to find another suitable date at their venue of choice.
While restrictions have been lifted in Mississippi, the only thing that will change about weddings is more people can now attend in-person instead of Facebook Live.