PICS: ‘Arendsvlei’ airs its first gay wedding

kykNET & kie’s popular telenovela, Arendsvlei, has proven that love wins every time with their very first gay wedding, breaking barriers.

Here are some of the best moments, including a photo of the late Shaleen Surtie-Richards, who played the role of Lee-Roy’s grandmother, Muriel Foster.

ALSO READ: Shaleen Surtie-Richards in her final ‘Arendsvlei’ scenes

Lee-Roy (Roberto Kyle) and Wesley (Craig Adriaanse) have been creeping into viewers’ hearts from the get-go and Arendsvlei’s gay couple finally tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony, shot over two days just outside of Stellenbosch.

Tarryn Josephs, Arendsvlei’s publicity manager, says: “The production team had about a month and a half to plan the wedding. We really wanted it to be special for the couple. Something timeless and simple, yet elegant.”

She says they wanted to give them a wedding that is genuine to themselves and their family.

The beloved Arendsvlei couple has been through a lot in the telenovela, including Lee-Roy’s struggle with cancer, Wesley’s suicide attempt and the battle with his sexuality.

South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) winner, Roberto Kyle, says Arendsvlei‘s gay wedding is one of the highlights of his career.

“I think the wedding symbolises light in a world that still has a lot of darkness towards the queer community today. I will always cherish the experience and cannot wait to do it one day in my own life,” he says.

Craig Adriaanse says that Wesley and Lee-Roy’s relationship has been beautiful to witness over the past couple of seasons and that representing a community whose stories have been pushed under the rug for a very long time, was a highlight for him.

“Love always wins,” he says.

According to Josephs, it was a day full of love, just like a fairy tale.

Watch Arendsvlei, Monday to Thursday, on kykNET & kie (DStv channel 145) at 7.30pm.