Cooper's ease of restrictions means more couples can say 'I do' to indoor weddings
Coronavirus trends in North Carolina have improved so much in recent weeks that Gov. Roy Cooper is easing pandemic restrictions starting on Friday.
This means indoor weddings and receptions are allowed more guests. For many, it’s the light at the end of the tunnel.
"We are so excited to just still be in business and that we’re still here and that we survived 2020," said Priscilla Erwin, co-owner of Mims House. "Because there were certainly times where we didn’t know if that was going to be the outcome."
Gov. Roy Cooper’s latest executive order allows 30% of capacity indoors with a limit of 250 people. Previously, it was 30% capacity with a limit of 100.
At Mims House in Holly springs, this means phones have been ringing off the hook.
“We just had a couple this morning who reached out and went ahead and increased their guest count because they decided to invite more people to their wedding, and we expect that’s going to be a trend across the board,” Erwin said.
More guests means more food and drinks, which means catering businesses are also expecting business to pick up.
“It’s going to take a little bit more time for catering, but yes I do anticipate getting some calls for increased guest counts and people who were holding on for spring, who are [now] going to be proceeding,” said Nicole Flynn with Catering Works, in Raleigh.
Flynn says right now their main concern is getting employees back to work.
“We would employ about 100 people with our events and stuff happening regularly," she said. "Currently, we are down to a core team of about 24, so that’s a drastic number for us. So, being able to get these people back to work and back to helping us is going to be great."
“I think COVID has helped people to reevaluate what’s important in life and what they want out of life," she said. "So I think that has translated into a lot more engagements, more and more engaging with the people that are closest to you.”
Erwin is expecting the remainder of this year, and especially 2022, to be one of the most-profitable and biggest years yet.
