In Season 1 of How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding, protagonist Tumi Sello reunites with her family for her sister Beauty’s wedding, forcing her to confront unresolved relationships and old wounds. In the process of planning the wedding, Tumi’s penchant for chaos creates squabbles, tension and just pure mess. Now it’s up to her to clean it up.
Tumi Sello (Busi Lurayi): Tumi Sello is the designated black sheep of her family, and she promptly lives up to that distinction at her sister Beauty’s wedding.
Beauty Sello (Thando Thabethe): Beauty plans to marry Sbu Twala on Christmas day. She’s also keeping a weighty secret from her family.
Dineo Sello (Clementine Mosimane): Dineo, mother to Tumi and Beauty, is the matriarch of the Sello family. Tumi and Dineo have a strained relationship because Dineo, who had Tumi at the age of 17, left her to be raised by her grandmother.
Khaya Manqele (Yonda Thomas): Khaya is Tumi’s best friend, but, after a one-night stand years ago, there’s a palpable tension between the two.
Sbu Twala (Sandile Mahlangu): The son of a prominent South African family, Sbu is set to marry Beauty, but family tensions (and Beauty’s major secret) could derail their whole relationship.
Themba Twala (Motlatsi Mafatshe): Themba is Sbu’s brother and a recovering alcoholic who plays an important role in the first big disaster of the wedding festivities.
Lydia Twala (Swankie Mafoko): Lydia is Themba’s wife, and early on, it’s clear that they aren’t exactly on the same page.
Valencia Twala (Charmaine Mtinta): Valencia is Sbu’s haughty mother, and she makes it clear that she doesn’t think Beauty — or her family — are good enough for her son.
Vusi Twala (Lehlohonolo Saint Seseli): Vusi Twala is Sbu's image-conscious father who just wants the wedding to go smoothly.
Four Seasons Westcliff Hotel: This is where the Sellos and the Twalas are staying for all the wedding festivities, and planning the Christmas Day ceremony.
-Tumi Sello reluctantly reunites with her family for her sister Beauty’s Christmas Day wedding, where Tumi is set to serve as the maid of honor. In the first episode, Tumi spends a drunken night with the groom’s brother, Themba, ultimately ending up in his bed (or having sex in a pool, rather) and inadvertently causing him to relapse into alcoholism. In the aftermath, Themba is nowhere to be found, and Tumi once again lives up to her reputation as the family troublemaker.
-Tumi is also reunited with her former best friend Khaya Manqele, whom she fell out of touch with after a very awkward one-night stand. Despite the unspoken tension, Tumi and Khaya pick up their friendship right where it left off. In Episode 1, Khaya learns that Tumi slept with Themba on the night she was supposed to meet Khaya for dinner and becomes very upset with her.
-It’s revealed in Episode 2 that Beauty is pregnant with her future husband’s baby, but she refuses to tell him until after they’re already married.
-In a particularly shocking twist, Tumi and Beauty meet their estranged father and invite him to Beauty’s wedding, only for him to tell them that, while Beauty is his biological daughter, Tumi is not. Tumi is so upset by this revelation that she accidentally reveals to Sbu’s family that Beauty is pregnant. The wedding is then called off.
-While Beauty remains shellshocked from her falling out with Sbu, Tumi and her mother apologize to the Twalas, and Tumi helps convince Sbu to give Beauty and their family another chance. In Episode 3, Sbu forgives Beauty and the wedding is back on.
-After Khaya rejects Tumi’s olive branch, she sends him a copy of her maid of honor speech, which she asked for his help to write. But the speech actually doubles as a love letter, prompting Khaya to show up at the wedding. Meanwhile, in their hotel room, Themba tells Lydia that he can’t continue their relationship; he’s wracked with guilt over his indiscretions and removes his wedding ring.
-After Khaya reads Tumi’s speech-turned-love-letter, he kisses her — passionately. And as Khaya prepares to tell Tumi his secret, the season ends on that cliffhanger.
Key Questions:
What is the big secret Khaya needs to tell Tumi?
How will it impact their potential romance?
Who is Tumi’s real father?
Are Themba and Lydia officially done?
Will the Sellos and Twalas get along after all this drama?
