Kristen and Brad with Platinum Party Planning

How they met:

Kristen and Brad met in October of 2003 when Kristen was 14 and Brad was 17. They met at a friend’s house that had siblings the same age as Kristen and Brad.

I was at a friend’s house (who had an older brother)…I was hanging out with all my girlfriends and brad was hanging out with the guys. Brad asked one of the guys who Kristen was, and they told him my name…the word is that at that moment he told one of his friends that he was going to date me.

Soon after, Kristen was at another friend’s house (who also had an older brother)…Brad was and his Manteo High School Soccer team were celebrating going to the State Championship. That was the night Brad introduced himself.

January 10, 2004, they finally had their first date. They had a friend drive them and they saw the movie “Just Married’—they still have the movie ticket stub! Towards the end of the movie, Brad reached over and grabbed her hand…and they have been together ever since.

When they knew they were in love:

Kristen remembers the first time that Brad told her he loved her, and how she realized that she really loved him too. Ever since then, they embraced the fact that they have something special and make it a point to not forget.

Despite their parents concern of their love growing so rapidly and at a young age, they continued dating. Kristen says, “Throughout all of the ups and downs, and growing up and finding ourselves during the time we have been together, we have never forgotten that initial spark and why we love each other.”

Brad realized Kristen was “the one” when he realized that he didn’t just love Kristen but he was in love with her. Brad states, “It only took about six months of dating before I truly realized this.”

Brad explains that, “even at her young age she showed that she was a woman, someone who was responsible, dedicated and passionate about everything she did and it showed in our relationship.

It was her qualities that balanced my curiosity and recklessness and she always was able to bring me back to solid ground. She showed me that she was the solid rock that I needed and will always need in my life and I won’t trade anything for it.”

How they chose their planner:

Kristen’s mom asked one of her friends (who were also planning a wedding) if they had any references for wedding planners. She gave the name of her planner, along with two other planners (one being Platinum Party Planning).

Kristen was really busy at the time finishing nursing school at University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, so her mom called all three of the references. After she talked to Gena Martin, she called Kristen and said “Kristen, I found your wedding planner“.

Kristen asked her mom how she knew, and her mom replied “Gena seemed so precise and organized about everything.” Kristen explains, “that is exactly the way I am…so my mom knew that we would get along perfectly, and I trusted her.”

Kristen tells of the first meeting with Gena at Platinum Party Planning, “When I first met Gena at our consult, I was very impressed by her professionalism, organization, creativity, and knowledge; I instantly knew that she would be the perfect planner for my wedding!”

Challenges of planning from far away:

Kristen says, “It was very difficult planning from afar. I would constantly think of things that I would need to do at home, and not be able to do them until I would visit…it made my visits home very crammed and stressed because I was constantly doing wedding errands on my visits. Having Gena made it a million times better though!”

What was the most stressful part of planning your wedding?

Kristen explains, “I felt like the most stressful part of planning the wedding was picking out my dress. I chose my dress a year and a half before the wedding because I instantly fell in love with it while shopping with my sister for her wedding dress.

I started to have second guesses as the wedding drew nearer because my dress had not yet been fitted and I was so worried that once I got it altered it would not have a perfect fit. I ended up being extremely pleased with my decision on the wedding day….I loved my dress and wouldn’t change it for the world!”

What helped keep you calm?

Kristen states, “the fact that I knew I had Gena’s help and support through it all was a huge calming factor.” Gena never let Kristen forget that, “The most important thing that happens on your wedding day is that you get married!” Kristen says, “Keeping in mind the true reason for the wedding…to marry my best friend and the love of my life.”

Favorites:

Kristen says that her, “ favorite part of the ceremony was initially seeing Brad’s face and finally getting proclaimed ‘Mr. and Mrs. Brad Vuyovich’; it was such an awesome feeling!” In honor of tradition, Kristen chose to walk down the aisle on the same aisle-runner that her mom walked in on for her wedding.

This is the same runner that my sister used at her wedding. We also got married in the same church as my parents and sister, so it was very meaningful to me.”

Kristen continues, “It is hard to pinpoint a favorite detail about the reception because the entire thing was absolutely fabulous!!! If I HAD to pick one detail, it would probably be the surfboard that brad painted for the wedding.

Throughout the wedding planning, Gena discovered that Brad loved to surf and paint, and that I loved the beach so she suggested incorporating surfboards into the decor and that Brad should paint one.

I had no idea how his painted surfboard would turn out, but he spent weeks on the surfboard. When I finally saw it, it was so special to me because he incorporated colors from the wedding and really made it to represent us. But honestly, I absolutely loved every detail of the reception!”

Would you change anything?

“NO WAY! I would do everything the EXACT same!” Kristen says.

Family:

When Kristen found out that her baby sister had set her wedding date before her (after she had been engaged first and had already set her date), she was a little upset. Kristen explains, “I quickly snapped out of being upset at all and was so extremely excited for her.

It was so awesome to see her get married first….I saw such an excitement in her and the light in her and her husband’s eyes made me so excited about my big day.

My sister and I are two very different people, so although I was tempted to copy some aspects of her wedding, I had ideas of my own (along with Gena, who had so many ideas that helped to capture who Brad and I are as a couple); not only that, I had planned a lot of details in my head about my wedding before Kelly was ever engaged (so luckily, I got to claim my colors)!

However, she chose to walk down the aisle on my mom’s aisle-runner, and I loved that touch, so I chose to do the same.”