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Cape Town – Minnie Dlamini, who is finally ready to showcase her self-produced TV wedding special to DStv viewers in South Africa and across Africa from this Friday, tells Channel24 that "even thinking about it makes me nervous but I can't wait to share it".
The TV star also laughs about hilariously inaccurate tabloid reports in June this year that she "sold her wedding to MultiChoice for R6 million".
"I did not get R6 million for the show. I wish I did, but I did not," says Minnie.
At the beginning of the year the TV presenter jumped from the SABC to SuperSport, and is now co-presenting the show Homeground that is being simulcast on SuperSport and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161).
Minnie's wedding TV special, Minnie Dlamini: Becoming Mrs. Jones, will unspool as a 3-part special on VUZU AMP (DStv 103) starting on Friday, 13 October at 19:30.
The first episode will take viewers through the process behind planning her wedding and the preparations for the traditional and western ceremonies.
The second episode follows her to Paris for her lavish bachelorette party with her bridesmaids. It will also include her dazzling traditional wedding and a deeper look into how her Zulu culture celebrates marriage.
The final episode will showcase the elegant western wedding set in the opulent backdrop of Somerset West in the Western Cape and is the episode Minnie calls "closest to her heart" as viewers will see her get married to Quinton Jones in a white wedding dress covered in Swarovski crystals, designed by Gert Johan Coetzee.
Tabloids had a field day about your wedding rights being sold for R6m to MultiChoice. But this is a "wedding story" filmed by VUZU AMP to air as a miniseries. How did the idea come about?
Firstly, I did not get R6m for the show. I wish I did, but I did not. This is more of a 3-part documentary series. I came up with the idea after the media frenzy following the announcement of my engagement. I thought it was the perfect idea to flex my producing skills but also control the narrative of my own story.
What will viewers see and what will you not show?
I have shared with my followers as much as I could possibly share with this TV project, giving them a true insight into my life on one of the most important journeys in my life.
Showing your wedding invites people into your personal life. How do you then strike the balance between what you share with the public and what you keep private?
As a media personality you are constantly taking risks and which is the best risk to take. You reveal what you're comfortable revealing and protect what is important. What is important to me is that I am married to someone who has no desire to be in public eye. Throughout all my narratives I need to protect and respect his views. It's no longer just about me anymore.
There isn't a right or wrong – stay true to yourself and to what you're comfortable doing. You cannot control people’s opinions about you. Instead of showing 10 different narratives, I put together my own story, my way.
How did having cameras around change the experience? You're used to having cameramen around but did you prep family members and wedding guests on what to do or how to behave?
Just like in every wedding there are always photographers and videographers. We made sure our camera men blended in. It was very important for my guests not to feel like they were on a film set, but instead to show the real emotions.
How is your documentary different from other wedding productions like Top Billing weddings and Our Perfect Wedding?
My format is different from the other 2 productions. In terms of the level of production it has really never been seen on South African television. I can truly say it's world class. I worked with a team of incredible talented creatives whose brief was to go completely out of their comfort zone to create a completely new viewing experience.
Why should people tune in and watch?
A lot of people think they know me – what makes me happy; what makes me tick. This is a piece of work that shows me. This also shows me through the people that I love. It is deeply personal and deeply transparent. Even thinking about it makes me nervous, but I can't wait to share it.
Minnie Dlamini: Becoming Mrs. Jones starts on Friday 13 October at 19:30 on VUZU AMP (DStv 103).
