By Nita McCann

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Those in love want Valentine’s Day to be one to remember.

But for others, it’s a day that is hard to forget.

While others go out to dine, the waitresses and waiters at some of Natchez’s restaurants are serving them and putting their own date nights on the back burner.

“The number one romantic thing we see are proposals,” said Josh Stewart, who’s been in the restaurant business waiting tables for 20 years and now works at Pearl Street Pasta. “Those are the most memorable moments to me.

“They’ll put the ring in a glass of champagne, or they’ll put it in the dessert,” he said.

Has anyone ever accidentally swallowed her engagement ring? “Not so far,” he said with a laugh.

For her part, Josh’s wife, Janice, has been waiting tables for 15 years and hasn’t seen one proposal yet — at least not on the clock.

“We were eating at a restaurant and that’s when I finally saw a proposal,” said Janice, who now works at the Castle.

“He got down on one knee and everything.”

David Browning, co-owner along with Guy Bass at Cotton Alley, said those popping the question try to make everything perfect, down to asking for a “nice table.”

But they better plan ahead next time, he added.

“We’ve been sold out for Valentine’s Day for two weeks. We have more than 100 reservations just for that night,” Browning said.

Meanwhile, the Stewarts plan for a date night sometime next week.

Why next week?

“We’re working on Valentine’s Day,” Janice Stewart said, laughing.