Gerry Turner Shared This 'Sweet' Holiday Tradition from His Late Wife with Theresa Nist's Family (Exclusive)

The Golden Bachelor's fiancée tells PEOPLE she and Gerry "spent a wonderful time together" in December

In between announcing their engagement during The Golden Bachelor finale and celebrating their wedding on Thursday, Gerry Turner and his fiancée Theresa Nist spent their first holiday season together.

“For me, the first time ever being able to buy Christmas gifts for grandsons was fantastic,” Gerry, 72, tells PEOPLE of giving presents to Theresa’s six grandsons. “I love my daughters and granddaughters and it's been great doing all the girly gifts, but I got to do pickleball stuff and play soccer. We did guy things!”

Related: Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist Share Their Vision for Their January Wedding: 'It's Going to be Spectacular' (Exclusive)

Theresa, 70, received pickleball-related gifts, too: one paddle from Gerry and a pair from two of her daughter’s friends that say “Mr. and Mrs. Turner.” Now she just needs to start playing.

“I just do it at home and I pretend that I'm playing,” the financial services professional says.

The retired restaurateur adds, “The equipment part is covered. Now we just have to get the basic skills covered.”

Gerry also shared a special tradition with Theresa and her family: making the cinnamon balls his late wife Toni liked to prepare at Christmastime.

“We spent a wonderful time together and his daughters taught all of us how to make these cinnamon balls. They were so delicious,” Theresa gushes. “We had it at my daughter's house, and her house was all festive, and we had such a wonderful time having a meal together. We learned a lot more things about each other.”

Cinnamon always makes Gerry think of Toni, who died suddenly in 2017 after being diagnosed with a bacterial infection.

“It is one of those things that has touched me,” the father of two says. “And it was one of those odd circumstances where I was walking down a street one day and I smelled cinnamon, and it made me think of Christmas and made me think of Toni making those cinnamon balls. So when my daughters picked up that tradition, and now they've brought it to Theresa's family, it's really a sweet connection, in more ways than one.”

Gerry and Theresa wrapped the holiday season by ringing in 2024 in New York City’s Times Square with Ryan Seacrest.

“I've lived in this area all my life and I've never experienced this,” New Jersey resident Theresa says. “This is amazing. I can't believe we were a part of this.”

The Golden Bachelor found it to be the perfect start to the year. “I'm not sure what could be more fun and exciting [than] New Year's Eve in Times Square with Ryan Seacrest and watching the ball drop,” Gerry says.

Related: Gerry Turner Believes ‘Fate Played a Hand’ in His Decision to Move to Charleston with Theresa Nist (Exclusive)

His live, televised wedding to Theresa might just exceed the fun of New Year’s Eve in Times Square, though.

“We're just so excited for this day and we want everybody to be a part of it, we wish everybody could be there,” Theresa says. “We're sending our love to everyone who supports us and wants to watch it. We want it to be a loving day.”

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The Golden Wedding airs Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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