SABC1’s popular cooking reality series Wedding Chefs is back for a second season, bringing together romance, culture, culinary competition and the high-pressure world of wedding catering.
Season 2 premieres on Sunday, 6 September 2026 at 18:00, with contestants facing a challenge that goes far beyond preparing a delicious plate of food.
This time, aspiring chefs must prove that they can understand the people behind the wedding – their love stories, cultures, traditions and personal tastes – and translate all of that into an unforgettable culinary experience.
The new season also welcomes media personality and content creator Sipho “Alphi” Mkhwanazi as the new host, taking viewers through the drama, excitement and pressure inside the Wedding Chefs kitchen.
The battle begins with a tough selection
The competition gets under way in the opening episode, where aspiring chefs face an expert judging panel featuring acclaimed chef The Funny Chef, whose real name is Lebogang Tlokana, and Chef Dede, also known as Tebogo Trevor Mmatli.
The judges are tasked with identifying the chefs who have the technical ability, creativity and personality required to survive the competition.
The selection process ultimately determines who will enter the Wedding Chefs kitchen and battle it out for the coveted title of Ultimate Wedding Chef.
It’s not just about the food
From Episodes 2 to 9, the chefs face perhaps their toughest critics yet – the couples themselves.
Each week, a new engaged couple brings their own love story, cultural background, traditions and wedding-day expectations to the competition.
The chefs then have to transform those stories into food.
A technically perfect dish will not necessarily be enough. Contestants must understand what makes each couple unique and create food that feels personal to them.
That means getting to grips with everything from cultural traditions and family expectations to individual tastes and the emotions surrounding one of the biggest days of their lives.
Eight couples, eight very different love stories
The couples at the centre of the new season bring stories of unexpected beginnings, resilience, faith and family.
Botshelo Makati and Lesego Moloi found love after a recorded sales call in 2019. Botshelo was immediately drawn to Lesego’s voice and eventually tracked her down on social media. Within a month, the relationship had become serious, and less than a year later they welcomed their son.
Keamohetsoe Lethata and Musawenkosi Hadebe met at a festive braai in Vosloorus in 2014. Their relationship was tested by unemployment during the Covid-19 pandemic and the devastating experience of their child spending weeks in ICU. Their story is one of resilience and standing together through difficult circumstances.
For Makabi Julia Tabane and Meshack Kgomotso Mabala, love was closer than they realised. The pair grew up around each other through mutual friends, with Meshack noticing Julia long before she realised he had feelings for her.
Mosima Sekwaila and Tlotlo Seefane are teenage sweethearts whose relationship dates back to 2002. Having grown up in the same village and on the same street, they experienced the uncertainty of youth together before eventually building a marriage that brought their families together.
Sudhata Jurakan and Sahur Maharaj began as friends. Their families knew each other and the pair grew up together before their relationship took a romantic turn on Sahur’s 21st birthday. Sudhata made the first move, helping to break through Sahur’s shyness and changing their relationship forever.
Patricia Lucas and Sizakele Sithole connected through Facebook Dating. What began as a simple online connection developed into a serious relationship, with Patricia eventually proposing. Their journey celebrates love that crosses cultures, continents and unexpected circumstances.
Thulisile Nkosi and Sibusiso Sibanyoni also had an unconventional beginning. Sibusiso first spotted Thulisile at a gathering in Duduza, but his initial attempt to approach her was rejected. A later phone conversation changed the direction of their relationship, with Sibusiso showing that he was prepared to embrace not only Thulisile but her children too.
Zandile Malevu and Thabiso Tamane’s story began with a voice on a train. Zandile had heard Thabiso sharing his ministry with commuters for years before their paths finally crossed at a station in 2016.
A decade later, they have endured employment challenges, illness and the pain of three miscarriages, with their relationship grounded in faith, respect and resilience.
The pressure builds towards the finale
After eight episodes of culinary battles and emotional storytelling, the competition reaches its conclusion in Episode 10.
The Funny Chef and Chef Dede return for the finale, where the remaining contestants face a final technical and creative assessment.
The judges will consider everything the chefs have demonstrated throughout the competition, including their technical skills, creativity and culinary vision.
Ultimately, only one contestant will walk away with the title of Ultimate Wedding Chef.
Love is the secret ingredient
With a new host, a panel of experienced judges, aspiring chefs and eight couples with very different journeys, Wedding Chefs Season 2 promises to serve up more than just impressive dishes.
The series places love, culture and personality at the centre of the competition, while challenging chefs to understand that catering for a wedding is about much more than putting food on a plate.
For the contestants, the pressure is simple – get the recipe right, or risk ruining someone’s big day.
Wedding Chefs Season 2 premieres on SABC1 on Sunday, 6 September at 18:00.
