Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe - The Golden Couple: Gerry + Theresa Talk Bachelor Nation, BTS Moments, and Bullsh!t Rumors

Episode Date: January 2, 2024

#699. Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, Bachelor Nation’s first-ever golden couple, are on the pod today to talk about their whirlwind of an experience both on and off of the show. After watching their love story unfold on The Golden Bachelor, Kaitlyn is excited to talk to them about everything from the sparks on their first date to their first “I love you” and get into all the post-show craziness. The couple shares how they are navigating this new fame, dealing with rumors and bullsh*t headlines, and figuring out the world of social media for the first time. Being in the public eye comes with highs and lows, but Gerry and Theresa are cherishing every moment as they know how fast life goes by. With the LIVE airing of their wedding only a few days away, Theresa is nervous, and Gerry remains cool as a cucumber. Are they writing their own vows? Will all the women from the first Golden Bachelor season be in attendance? How did Kaitlyn make the invite list? Well, tune in to find out. And you can watch the two of them tie the knot LIVE on this Thursday, January 4th at 8pm EST.  Thank you to our amazing sponsors! Check out these deals, Vinos: BETTER HELP — Visit BetterHelp.com/VINE today to get 10% off your first month. PROGRESSIVE — Quote your car insurance at Progressive.com. SKIMS — SKIMS Bras are now available at SKIMS.com. Plus, get free shipping on orders over $75. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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It's so good to see you both. I'm so happy. I'll never forget that I came and I witnessed the first flirtatious moments. And I remember he had a notepad and we're judging the competition and he gave me a nudge when you were up there. He was like this one. And I was like, okay, so I was rooting for you since the beginning. Yes. Yes, I'm so excited.

And I can't even believe that you guys have a wedding in like five days. Yeah. I thought you were going to say in like five minutes. Yeah, it must feel the same. I know. Yeah. Pretty exciting, though, isn't it? I know.

Hearts is deep. Gosh. I mean, it's crazy because, well, Teresa, I know you're kind of a pro at planning a wedding. Your last one, you had like, what, three days? And now you have five weeks. You're probably like, oh, this is easy, peasy. I plan neither one. My mother planned that wedding.

Oh, really? She did it. Yeah, she got everything. The cake, the gown, the church, the, you know, photography, she did everything. And then my daughter doing this one. Oh, well, there you go. Are you having any input? Gary, are you having input?

Like, what is the best part of wedding planning so far? The best part for me is all the surprises I'm going to have. Yeah. Because she's kind of told me some of the things that she likes. So I know some of the things that are coming, but really the best part's going to be the surprises. Yeah. Oh, how fun. You get to just kind of go with the flow that day and make it actually about love? Yeah, we're trying. Won't that be different? We were able to be authentic through the whole season. We're just going to carry that through into the wedding. Yeah. That's so nice. Are you guys

on like a major media tour right now? Like, are you tired? Are you kind of just starting yours tonight? Are you like in the middle of it? Am I getting you on the last interview and you're like, get us out of here? No, kind of in the middle. Um, you know, when we, we're, we're just starting. You know, we we've really had a nice little break. You know, we've had some time together. We've had a couple of relaxing days. There's been a few interviews today. We're in New York and we'll end, you know, being in with Ryan Sechrest, watching the ball drop and do those things. Really, really exciting, because I live so close, so I've never done this. That's really, yeah. Oh, you're really like, you're getting the full experience. Like, it's, isn't it funny how different life gets once you go

on national television? You're like, and now I'm friends with Ryan Seacrest. and getting married in front of millions of people in a few days. Like, it just, it's such a whirlwind. How are you both handling it all? Are you just, like, surrendering to it? Are you having fun? No, it's like surreal. You're right.

Like, how is this happening? This is crazy. And all the years, and it's many years, that I've lived in New Jersey, and I could have done this so many times. Now I'm going to do it and be on stage with Gary. Like, this is crazy. And then, you're doing it the right way. And we keep reminding each other to just enjoy this moment, enjoy this moment.

And it will slip away so fast. Like life, obviously, as you know, it goes by so fast. And I feel like the older you get, the quicker it goes by. And like, today is my niece's 16th birthday. And I'm like, but you're three. How are you 16? Like, it just happens. So to be able to remind each other, like, let's be in the moment, take this in.

Because you can get lost in it. In the whirlwind of what you know now of television, it all does go by so quickly. And sometimes it can get very overwhelming and almost like a little bit, well, maybe I'm just spoiled, but like, it can, it can get really irritating or too much or sometimes I just want to be like, whoa, this is too much. But when you actually just say, this is going to go by so fast, and we're going to look back on this with so many memories, then you kind of are able to be present for it. So I'm glad you're reminding each other of that. Yeah, without a doubt, I mean, like, we can, I can't even believe, I'm sure you can't believe that

we're at this age and we have children who are grown and we have grandchildren who are grown and we want to look at people who are living this and say just really cherish every single moment live it don't wish this away don't wish that this will go away this is these are the best years of your life and and now we're also saying hey maybe the best is yet to come you know maybe that's what's going to get it's yeah i mean the best kind of is yet to come for you guys because now you get to do the real deal you know you've had this all the tv cameras and of course you're still going to have them on your wedding day but you will be able to just like now take what you've gotten from that show and reap all the benefits. You're going to get so many

cool opportunities. You're going to be able to do so many things together and obviously travel together. And it really is. It's been so inspiring to me to watch the two of you and to just watch the show. And the proof is in the pudding with the numbers. People love it. And the show did so well. And people are just rooting for you both. So it's so exciting. And it's so crazy that your wedding. I am coming. So I know you probably had no say over the wedding list, but thank you for the invite. I'll be there. We're hoping you're going to be there. Yay, that's great.

It's so crazy because I'm like, I just found out as I'm watching TV outside, I'm like, wait, the wedding is live? I thought we were just, you don't mean, it's live? Are you nervous? Yes. We're so nervous. I'm nervous. He's not nervous. I'm nervous.

No, I'm nervous as any groom, I think. would be. But I'm not more nervous because it's a live TV show. That's crazy. You were like born for this, Gary. You're like, this is my moment, guys. I mean, we do this all the time, right? I mean, when you're in Matcher Nation, this is what you're prepared to do. It's just another day for you guys. But I mean, how many people are attending? Do you know how many people are attending your wedding minus the millions that will be watching on TV? TV? It's 150. About 150? Yeah.

Oh, wow. I made the cut. That's amazing. Yeah. Oh. Have you got your dress ready? Oh, I've got my dress ready. I am so excited. Like, watch out for me on the dance floor because that's where I tend to be at Wednesday. And so I will see you there. So it's airing Thursday, January 4th at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Now, it was one of my favorite things to witness in real life and on the TV screens is how much you and the ladies bonded. And will all the women that you have made, you personally, Teresa, made connections with as friends,

will they all be there? You'll have to see. You'll have to say, we want every single woman to be there. We want every day. Teresa is media trained, honey. Yes, you're going to watch. Soon in to find out. No, I absolutely love all of these women.

and we have very strong bonds. We talked to them all. Yeah, because we're going to be there to celebrate this day with us because we went through this whole experience together. Yeah. A lot of time experience. Well, maybe they'll do it again. Yeah.

No. Maybe twice, you know, who knows. And are you writing your own vows to each other? Yes. Yes. Yes. And we've better memorize them. Yeah, I've got to figure this out.

That's the most perfect. part of this is, you know, we've gotten to pour our hearts out to a piece of paper that we get to look eye to eye and say the things that maybe we've said and maybe we haven't, but we want to make sure they're on record. Yeah. That's nice because I have actually this experience similar to yours a little bit, but I said, I love you off camera to the guy that I picked. And I got in a bit of trouble. I am just a troublemaker in general. I didn't even mean to get myself in trouble, but I set it off camera and they go, don't you want that moment for on camera for the world to see that you can look back on it? Now, my question to you is, are you glad you had that private

moment in the fantasy suite when you got to say, I love you, do each other? Or do you wish you had it on camera? No, I wouldn't change that for one second because I remember it and I'll take the memory to my grave. Very vivid, vivid memory. We talked, and we talked, and we talked, and I go, Risa, I love you, I love you, I love you. And I'm going to ask you to marry me, and I don't know if you'll say yes, but I'm going to ask you. And that was almost exactly the way it was saying.

Yeah, that's exactly. That's so special. But now it's not. Now you just all the right. Yes. Well, you had it in the time. Now I get to share it on off the vine. Ha ha.

Just kidding. That's special, though. I feel like I thought the same thing. I'm like, I know that's good for TV, but like, it's good for my soul to have this between the two of us. And sometimes you've got to take those moments because you share so much with the world. And speaking of that, now you're in public. You've got hundreds of thousands of eyeballs on you through social media, which is so funny because I picture, like, not to compare you to my father, but like I picture my dad on social media. And I'm like, if he had 100,000 people following him plus, I would wonder how he's doing with that.

So how are you two navigating the world of social media? We didn't know anything about it. I've been getting routine lessons, almost scheduled lessons on how to manage Instagram. Like just at lunch today. You know, Teresa walked me through how to do a story. He didn't know how to do a story, but I didn't know how to do a story. I came back to I was on Instagram only to follow my family. I had 14 posts in five years.

And then it was just, it was a whole new world that it never existed. And between us, I think we have about 250,000 followers if we total up the two of them. That is crazy. We started at zero. Yeah. 40, okay, who had 46. I had 46. Get it right, Gary.

It's so cool because you do, on one. hand you have like this you know it's kind of scary and it's a big responsibility and you're like what if i do something wrong but on the other hand you're inspiring so many people like like like i said even myself sometimes i have a pity party for myself that i'm single at 38 and i'm like i'll never find love and then i watch a show like this and i'm like oh my gosh katelyn age is truly just a number you can find love at any age and you can go through so much life still with somebody now like you still have so much of your life left to live together yeah oh you can't are still silly if I'm going.

But you know what? You're welcome. No, that's right. Hope at any age, and that's the message we want to spread with. But I would say the best part about Instagram for me is really these direct messages and any messages that they say that we, you've inspired us. And now I'm not afraid old. And now I think there's love that I can find love at any age.

So that's for me that's the best part to just get those messages. And it's just hard, you know, to respond to every single person, which we wish we could. We want to. But, you know, of course. But you've got, you've got things to do and places to see and Italy to go explore. Have you, either one of you been to Italy before? I've been to Italy twice. And I have not. Yeah. I realize. Oh, Gary. Oh, are you, Teresa, they'll show you the ropes. I am so looking forward to it. But mostly, I went Rome and North. And really, I just want to go Rome and South. That. really romantic trip. Yes. We've got to get to the people that are not so touristy, you know, they're really romantic hidden places. How fun to now, like, be in the honeymoon phase again in life when you both have experienced, like, such true love and, like, what dreams would be made of as a long-term marriage and obviously, like, such loss, and then to find each other again, and then go through the whole phase again of, like, falling in love in different cities, being romantic, getting to do this life together. It's just so fun. And I know, I mean, I mean,

I mean, it's probably not as normal as most couples would be out in public. Like, do you get recognized all the time? I, Gary, I mean, I know I was, I witnessed it at the CMA Fest. I was like, where, I was like, where your bodyguards? Like, where's your security? He's like, I don't have any. I was like, oh my gosh, Gary was just thrown to wolves. Like, is it wild?

It is, it is pretty constant. And I have to say, people always will ask, do you get tired of it? And I don't, because people get to share in the joy of the story and the joy of the show. And, you know, just walking into the hotel last night, Teresa literally walked in the door. I was waiting for her. There was four young ladies there waiting to take our picture together. So it's like it's constant.

So Gary's dream is that I walk through an airport with him, and that'll happen tomorrow morning for the first time. I'm so looking forward to that because in an airport. First time. First time together in an airport. Usually we're coming from different locations. So, yeah. Isn't that funny? It's so funny to think that, like, the little moments in life that you look forward to after you have these extravagant dates and you're doing, like, the most together. And all you look forward to are those little moments of walking through the airport together, getting a coffee, like having a glass of wine, all those little things that feel normal, right?

Exactly. And, and, yeah, the best part is meeting so many people. And, like, now you can talk to strangers all the time because they feel that they know you. So now, you know, you can tell us. Yeah. That's amazing. And obviously, hindsight is 20-20. Looking back on everything you went through, how would you both describe your experience? Like, obviously, you both had different experiences, but how would you describe it? And I'm not sure there were words to describe. I mean, just shortly before we got together for this interview, I asked, Teresa, did you ever have even an inkling of how big this would be? Because, Our families have joined together. It's not just that we have impacted and changed each other, but we've changed our families. We've changed people who've watched the show and they have hope

and I hope they find the humor in some of the things we do. So there's so many ripple effect changes that are all positive, in my opinion, that this is caused. Yeah. I mean, seriously, like it was we I looked forward to like an amazing experience and to meet other women and hoping that it would happen but like how in the world did this happen this is amazing I know it's it must be pinched me moments that you're doing like planning a wedding knowing that like all of bachelor nation and bachelor family is going to be there to support you and cheer you on and you've just got like the world behind you and it's just it's so cool to see it is crazy to just have this level of fame after the show when you kind of don't know what to do with it but i don't know i just feel like

you two are both so humble and like appreciative of everything and i think a lot of people it this this show can create some monsters and people can like get you know a little too into it but i feel like where you're at in life you truly are just like so grateful to find love and each other and then just share it with the world so i i love it for you and i know that that like also with fame comes the freaking rumors and headlines that are misconstrued and just so much crap which I thought there's no way they're going to do that to like the golden bachelor but they still anyone wants a headline right and it's and a lot of times it's a bunch of bullshit so how do you navigate awful people on the other side of media trying to take you guys down yeah you know for a while there were some of the

things that that we read that were bothersome but as time goes totally realize I'm not going to give other people to power over me to make me unhappy. I saw online a simple little one of those proverbs a week or two ago. And the first slide said peace. And the second slide said allowing people to be wrong about you. And it's like, you know what? That's perfect. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, these comments are wrong. The assumptions are wrong. Some of them are pretty bizarre, quite obviously. Yes. Yeah. I know. I know. I used to get bothered by them because it's really stirring to hear things about yourself that you know were absolutely not true. But now I am kind of amused by them. It's their perception of what I am. I don't know. I don't know what to say

about it. They see you as one-dimensional. They see you as somebody that is a real human being when they're doing that. Also, companies, media outlets, everything, that sadly is their job. to try and just get clickbait. So even if it sounds crazy and bizarre, but it's true that you're just one dimensional to some people. And what's crazy is anyone can say whatever they want and it can go out there. I've read the craziest things about myself. I'm like, where did that even come from?

How did you get there? And it's just, and next week, guess what, it's going to be a different name with the same headline or something else. And it just all moves along. So, you know, at the end of the day, I think you have the right attitude towards it. And I'm glad because obviously that can be, there's blessings and curses of this world. And that can be definitely a curse only if you let it. Yeah.

You know, the worst of it is when my kids read this and they give me deep about it. Yeah. They said, Dad, we didn't know you were a janitor at a YMCA. And I go, I didn't either. But that, you know, apparently I was. That's hilarious. It is hilarious. Literally, you got to get, get amused by it because you're like, these people, like, and

one of my favorite, and maybe you can take this away with you as well, one of my favorite thoughts is you never take opinions from people where you wouldn't want to be where they are in life, you know, like, well, if you looked up to somebody and you were inspired by them and they took you down, then that would hurt. But you don't want to take opinions from people where you wouldn't want to switch positions with them and you know and and that's a nice thought that I usually take away with me so okay now I want to talk about communication because I feel like the older we get the more we realize communication is lubrication in a relationship and it is important and everybody is different communicating

styles so do you think going on the show helped your communication because you're kind of forced to talk through everything and open yourselves up to be so vulnerable, including your life experience? Like, do you feel like you have good communication with each other? We definitely have good communication with each other. But, yeah, I think you're making a good point about the show. But to Teresa's credit, she's very good at allowing direct conversation. It's okay to not beat around the bush with her. And she will be that way with me. So we kind of get to the heart of an issue pretty quickly and get it resolved. Yeah.

That's incredible because I feel like people spend their whole lives trying to do that. And even myself included, something will be really deep down bothering me and I'll put it out there in many different ways and I'm angry about this and I'm irritable about this and really deep down, you just, if you get to the root of the problem quicker, the faster you can just move through it and understand each other. So I love that you guys are already there in the beginning of your relationship. It is pretty great. We've had a few difficult conversations.

We have. And when we're done, we look at each other and we go, I love you more. Yeah. Yeah. That's true. We're really good at working through things ourselves. So we're doing a great job. Yeah, we are.

Yeah. Awesome. That's so cool. Like that you could look at each other after and be like, we had a, that was a tough conversation. But you know what? Love you more. We're better. I love you more.

right. That's right. I'm so, you guys are so cute. I can't stand it. I know you two have obviously great conversations and we saw it in the car on your first date. And obviously we don't get to see everything. But what did you two talk about where you really feel like it solidified your connection with each other? Like was there a moment you can pinpoint? I think it was the first date. Okay. So I have to talk about that date. It was the first date. We connected so fully and so completely that first date. And we actually talked about going to South Carolina that first date. And yeah, background information. And Gary keeps saying that that first day, we kept talking almost like we were talking over each other, but we were communicating the whole time. And so we really

clicked and we were very excited about it. And then, you know, of course, he had to continue his journey. And that's the way it was. And he did. And he did a great job. I see for me, I kept trying to stay open and keeping all the possibilities open and so forth. That defining moment for me really came in the fantasy suite. Yeah, okay. And I had a few concerns. And before I was even able to express those concerns, she was all over it. She goes, the cameras are off.

I don't have to worry about my grandchildren watching this conversation. And I want you to know this. And I want you to know this. Oh, my God. Like, who was the person? This is it. expected to just open up and show exactly who you are and be authentic and you know but you're you've got cameras all around you and producers telling you what the conversations you're going to have and it's

just not natural so it's it's good because I feel like a lot of people go into the fantasy suites and get so nervous and almost like don't know what to do or say because you've gotten to a point where you're like who am I what am I saying like who really are you so it's it's cool to hear when you actually get to the fantasy suites and you're like here's what you need to know the cameras are gone i'm shy like it's it's just important conversations yeah it was it was perfect that way because there were a lot of times and i think for both of us when we looked at a camera we didn't see the camera we saw one of our grandchildren yeah so the conversation had to be edited but then when it's no cameras and you can really be truthful and revealing to each other it's like so

refreshing right i have that written down too i'm like obviously i know from experience where there's so many moments that people don't get to witness and of course it's special because it's between the two of you but is there something that you wish people saw that we didn't get to see at home oh well maybe your birthday or then i gave you a seashell that i picked off up off the beach and yeah that was a good yeah right that was really nice or my talent show which is yes i'm yeah i go I was there. I was there. I had front road to the cheerleading show and it was amazing. Thank you. Thank you. It was fun writing a song. It was fun. It was so fun to be there and like see, again, it was fun to see Gary like kind of nudged me and he wrote on his paper like my first date like went so well. Like he was so excited about you right from the beginning. Oh yeah. He was he was very excited about you. I'm I should have kept the piece of paper. because I'm pretty sure you were number one on his list and I sort of kept it

the show now because I also know how hard it is to be in Gary's position and go and because I actually had the same thing where on night when I was like I know who I'm picking and now I have to go through the whole season and keep my open and make a TV show and still like it feels so foreign obviously to go through it and do it that way but let me tell you at the end you have no questions about other women all you know is what you want at the end and you are so sure that you've never been more sure about anything in your life that's exactly right yeah exactly right he kept a journal did you keep a journal i didn't i kept a journal oh you did wow yeah it's kind of fun to go back in that journal and i can remember the activities you know the actions of the day

but i frequently wrote down how i felt yeah you know i feel like this or i feel like that that's the that I think you forget more quickly. So I'm kind of glad I kept a journal. I'm so glad you kept a journal because you can obviously have that to look at. I still look back on mine and you're right. I'm not like, today I did this. This is what we did on our date. Like it's like I feel blank.

This person made me feel this. Yeah, that's cool. Yeah. You know how difficult this journey is because it's just not natural. Like, yeah, I was making friends and I had and I love these women. And so, and now we're both all after the same person. It just, it wasn't a natural thing. Was there any other disputes, like, in the house that we didn't see?

Because I was like, these women are all getting along pretty well. They had to, like, make it about you having a great connection to, like, get any juice out of anything. And I'm like, you guys all just get along that well. Yeah, no, really. No, we did. There weren't, there weren't any other things. There were more fun things you didn't say. Like, yeah, Jason and I wrote a song.

That's fine. Yeah. We're going to have to get you to come and reenact it on the podcast another time because I know you guys only have a short period of time. So I'm just going to wrap it up by asking what's next. Like we all know the wedding. We all know we're going to be watching the wedding and you two live in separate places. So what is the next move? Do you know yet?

Yes. The next move is as soon as we finish this trip, I'm going to pack my dog up in my truck and drive to New Jersey. And Teresa's always said she wanted a dog. And I have a golden doodle. so it's an easy and easy to have. And we're going to have some nice quiet days talking about our future and planning out the things that we want to do

over the next month, six months, year. And it'll be so refreshing to be able to do that. That's a nice plan because everything does seem to have a bit of a timeline right now for you guys. And you've always been on somebody else's schedule. And that's overwhelming too. And again, going back to those. small moments that you hang on to sitting down and be able to plan the next few

months of your lives together on your schedule what you want to do you know you get to decide your timeline and i think that's uh gonna just bring you to even closer so i'm like i get full body chills i'm such a nerd for love because i just think you two are so special and i always root for people coming off this show it is so challenging to navigate sometimes but if you have straight up honest communication and true love and respect for each other like I really believe in your love story and I just can't wait to, like, continue to watch it even through social media. Oh, thank you, thank you.

That's really nice. Yes, you have really been awesome. And you were awesome on the show. Thank you so much. Yes. You were so good. We were so excited. Yeah.

Oh, my God, I had the best time. I had so much fun. And it's been nice to like, Gary, obviously, I've seen you a couple times since and you're able to, you know, kind of weirdly bond over all these things we've all gone through no matter what. age you are, no matter what season you were. You're kind of like family at this point. And Teresa, we love to have you in the family. And everyone I know is rooting for you since the beginning too. So thank you guys so much for sharing your whole journey and story with us and continue to do that in your wedding. I can't wait to see you be a beautiful bride and Gary a handsome groom

and hear your vows live with the world. Thank you. Thank you so much. That didn't make me nervous Now you're nervous. Now you're nervous. Good. Good. We've got to light a little fire under Gary's butt. Yeah. Put a fire on you. All right. Thank you, Caitlin. Yes. We love you. Thank you guys. We'll see you guys very soon. Yeah. We'll see you soon. Bye. I'm Caitlin Bristow. I'll see you next Tuesday. Thank you.

Thank you.