Good Neighbor Podcast: Tri-Cities
Bringing together local businesses and neighbor of the Tri-Cities region. Good Neighbor Podcast hosted by Skip Mauney helps residents discover and connect with your local business owners in and around The Tri-Cities.
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Good Neighbor Podcast: Tri-Cities
EP# 155: Crafting Unforgettable Moments : Kristin Vittorini's Journey with Blushing Gypsy Events
What makes Kristin Vittorini with Blushing Gypsy Events a good neighbor?
How does a homeschooling mom and full-time RV traveler turn her passion for event planning into a thriving business? Discover the inspiring journey of Kristin Vittorini, the creative force behind Blushing Gypsy Events, a standout company in the world of event planning with services that range from decor rentals to luxury pop-up picnics. Kristin shares how she found her calling in the enchanting setting of Gatlinburg and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the "organized chaos" and the challenges that come with orchestrating unforgettable events. Her story is a testament to following one's dreams with fearless enthusiasm, whether it's running marathons or planning weddings.
Throughout our conversation, Kristin's zest for life and love for her craft is contagious. We dive into the synergy of her supportive team and discuss the potential for her to return to the show as her company continues to grow and evolve. As the episode wraps up with a heartfelt thank you to Kristen for her candid insights, we extend an invitation to our listeners to nominate their favorite local businesses for future episodes of the Good Neighbor Podcast. Tune in to explore the unique offerings of Blushing Gypsy Events and get inspired by Kristin's captivating tale of balancing adventure and ambition.
To learn more about Blushing Gypsy Events go to:
https://www.blushinggypsy.com/
Blushing Gypsy Events
(912) 481-1854
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Skip Monty.
Speaker 2:Well, hello everyone and welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. So today we've got a very special guest. I am pretty excited to learn all about her and her business, because today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, ms Kristen Vittorini, who is the owner operator of Blushing Gypsy Events. How are you doing? Hope you're having a good day.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Awesome, awesome. Well, like I said, I'm pretty excited to learn all about you and your business, and I'm sure our listeners are too, because it's a very unique name Blushing Gypsy Events. So, if you don't mind, why don't you kick us off by telling us about your business?
Speaker 3:We are Blushing Gypsy Events. We are a full-service event planning company and we offer everything from full event planning, decor rental, bartending services, and we've recently added luxury pop-up picnics to the mix. We do everything from private events, parties, weddings, all the way up to we have some pretty large corporate contracts that we do events for also.
Speaker 2:Wow, pop-up picnics. I've never heard of that Tell us about it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they're fun, so we actually can come to any location, your location or we have several properties we've partnered with and we can actually set up a beautiful picnic and I'm talking like tablescapes, real china, real glassware. We've partnered with bakeries and delis and all the things to come up with a really cool local menu for each experience.
Speaker 2:Wow, that sounds pretty interesting. How far in advance do you need to book that? Honestly?
Speaker 3:well, depending on what they're looking for. Um, we can pull off anything in about 24 hours typically. Um, we do um, still have time for valentine's day. We have, I think, four more places we could do for valentine's day for more spots.
Speaker 2:Um, but yeah wow, very nice, very nice yes, they are a fun date night.
Speaker 3:uh, they're a lot of proposals, surprise proposals with them, so they're fun.
Speaker 2:Wow, sounds very interesting. But, kristen, interesting business. How did you get into this industry?
Speaker 3:Oh gosh, well. So it's kind of funny how I got into it. I got into it by complete accident, so I actually homeschooled my kids and full-time RV'd for nine years around the country. Well, so it's kind of funny how I got into it. I got into it by complete accident, so I actually homeschooled my kids and full time RV for nine years around the country, and the last contract I had was taking a RV resort and converting it to a tiny home community, and that contract was exhausting, like I was so done by the end of it.
Speaker 3:And so I found this little job at a little campground up here in Gatlinburg. It was just after I was hosting. I only had to be there from like 8 pm to 7 am on grounds and it was great. For like two weeks I was hiking, doing all the things. It was fun, and then I got bored. So I found a little part-time job as a floral assistant for an all-inclusive wedding company in Gatlinburg and I fell in love with it, and so I learned every aspect of the business, including the backend of the business. I made it all the way up to the manager, and after a few years I branched off and started my own thing, not knowing if it would take off, kind of just a side hustle, and it took off. So here we are.
Speaker 2:So here you are, and how long ago has that been?
Speaker 3:I've been on my own since 2021.
Speaker 2:Wow, well, congratulations Four years.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Obviously something's working right.
Speaker 3:Yeah, apparently yeah.
Speaker 2:So yeah. Or we're faking it till.
Speaker 3:we make it Either way.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I understand. I run a small business as well, so I totally get it. So what, kristen? What are some myths or misconceptions in the event?
Speaker 3:industry? Okay, this is probably my favorite question. I think it's funny when people think, like what we do is like glamorous and like easy and like we're always put together and all the things, and that's just not the case. To be honest with you, it's organized chaos. At every event, no matter how well you are planned out, it is organized chaos. And let me just tell you that the event planner hangover it's a real thing. It's when you've worked an event for 14 hours the day before and the next day you feel like you went out and you drank all night the night before.
Speaker 2:Oh, wow.
Speaker 3:It's a real thing. So 90 percent of the time I'm showing up in sweats looking homeless, but by the end of it, when we're all set up, I take 10 minutes to go look like a human for the actual event to start. So it's not all glamorous.
Speaker 2:It's not all glamorous. Well, and, by the way, I'm uh, I'm jealous, uh, when you were talking about uh, you said that you rv'd for nine years. That I would love that's like my dream to do, that. I would love to do it do you? Have any advice there don't do it, don't be scared, especially if you have kids.
Speaker 3:Do not be scared to take that chance. Um, just go for it. I did it as a single mom. I homeschooled my kids. I didn't have a plan, I didn't have a clue. I figured it out. If you want something bad enough, you will figure it out.
Speaker 2:Good point, very good, good thing to remember, too, awesome. Well, outside of work, kristen, what do you do for fun?
Speaker 3:Oh gosh, okay, I am an outdoor enthusiast. Um, I'm a huge runner. I, uh, I run marathons and half marathons, um kayak, um camping. I'm obsessed with camping, to the point that I have a rooftop tent on my forerunner obsessed.
Speaker 2:Oh wow, Love it.
Speaker 3:A lot of hiking, a lot of trail running. I enjoy, you know obviously, all things to do with my kids. So yeah, Wow, Well you live in a great place to do all that I know Very lucky.
Speaker 2:I'm like you I love to hike, love to camp, love to camp. I'm like you, I love to hike, love to camp, love to camp. Don't do it nearly enough, but anyway. Well, if let's change gears for just a second, can you describe a hardship or a life challenge that you've overcome and how it made you stronger in the end?
Speaker 3:Yeah, absolutely, obviously not going to go into full detail, but in 2012, march of 2012, I had some major life happen. In about 30 seconds, I became a single mom to two very small children, with no expectation of that ever happening. And I guess I learned right then and there that, a I'm stronger than I think I am. B when bad things happen, it doesn't define who you are. It doesn't have to define who you are. It can be a moment of who you are and make you stronger and more independent and wiser if you take it and learn from it. And so I've taken that and I've really just tried to turn everything into a positive, and it's taught me that even in the worst of situations, I can sit back and find something good about that situation. So, yeah, I'm grateful for the hardship in my life.
Speaker 2:That is a wonderful attitude to have, very, very positive. Thank you Awesome, awesome. So, kristen, there's a lot of really cool aspects to your business, but if you could, think of one thing that you would like our listeners to remember about blushing gypsy events. What would it be?
Speaker 3:I think it would be that we are not a cookie cutter company company. When you go on my website, there's some information about packages and stuff, but we customize every single quote, every single event for our client, because nobody is the same. What their needs are is not the same. So I am very personal with my clients. I want to talk to them, I want to make sure we get along, that our energy vibes, because it's really hard working for a year or two years with somebody you don't vibe with. That's tough. So I like to be able to make sure that my clients feel like family to me and that you know they feel the same about me and that we customize everything and everybody feels like they're our only client.
Speaker 2:Great thing to remember. Now, how far do you travel to do this?
Speaker 3:Coast to coast Okay.
Speaker 2:Really Wow, yes, we travel coast to coast.
Speaker 3:We have been all over.
Speaker 2:Wow, well, I was going to say so if somebody from go ahead. I'm sorry.
Speaker 3:We have a contract with a major hotel corporation so we do all of their grand openings all over the country.
Speaker 2:So oh, wow.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Impressive.
Speaker 3:Thank you so.
Speaker 2:I was going to say so. Somebody in Johnson City said, hey, I'd like to have a picnic, that's not out of the question.
Speaker 3:Never out of the question.
Speaker 2:Never out of the question. All right, very good to know Well, Kristen, how can, for those of us who, you know, don't have plans for Valentine's yet or other occasions that are coming up, how can we learn more?
Speaker 3:Definitely my website, blushandgypsycom, or on Instagram at blushandgypsy events. We're on TikTok I do have a private Facebook page but I don't have one built for the company, but the website, Insta and TikTok will get you to us for sure. My phone number and everything is on there also. Always you can reach out text, call, email, whatever's best.
Speaker 2:Very good. And one last question that was not on the list, so what is the significance of the name Blushing Gypsy?
Speaker 3:OK, so it's kind of like a marketing thing. So in when I learned all about weddings and everything, the one thing I learned was a cute name was like essential and I can't tell you how many times I've been booked just because they like my name and my company. So Blushing, you know, blushing bride gypsy. I am a full-time gypsy, I love to travel. Can't sit still for long. Put them together.
Speaker 2:There you go, there you go, great name, great name. I love it, I love it.
Speaker 3:Thank you.
Speaker 2:Well, kristen, I can't tell you how much I appreciate you being on our show and how much I've enjoyed meeting you and learning all about the blushing gypsy events company, and wish you and your girls, your family and everyone at your business all the best moving forward.
Speaker 3:Well, I appreciate that. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and maybe we can have you back when you have some big event coming up.
Speaker 3:Absolutely. We've always got something coming up.
Speaker 2:All right, sounds great. Thanks so much.
Speaker 3:Thank you.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnptry-citiescom. That's gnptry-citiescom, or call 423-719-5873.