Almost since the start of their reality show romance, Love & Hip Hop: New York’s Yandy Smith and Mendeecees Harris have been a fan favorite couple. Through three seasons, viewers have watched them become a family with Harris’ children from a previous relationship, add two more kids to their home, and grabble with Harris’ year–long incarceration and current conditional release.

And this Memorial Day, May 25, at 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m., fans will be able to see the two exchange vows live on VH1. Enstars recently got the opportunity to sit down with the husband & wife-to-be to talk about the wedding, the fear of a broadcasting their nuptials live on TV, and more.

ENSTARS: So one of the reasons that I was picked to do this interview is that I myself got married last weekend.

Yandy: Congratulations!

Mendeecees: What happened to the honeymoon?!

ES: We’re doing that later…But it kind of gives me a leg up because I’ve just been through this too, although on much much smaller scale.

Yandy: Yeah, you know all the good questions….Can I ask you a question?

ES: Sure.

Y: I just want to know, for him. At your wedding, did you feel like it was all about your bride and you were just kind of thrown in there or did you feel very included, did you feel like it was just her day.

ES: It felt like it was her day, but there was stuff for me. But if I had my way, it’d have just been the two of us.

M: Ahhhhhhh…See I think that’s a male thing.

ES: Maybe. I think so.

Y: Because he’s like “this is Yandy’s day” and I’m like most men feel like that, but I just wanted to know if I was being a bridezilla, a horrible one.

ES: Are you doing like an inner check to keep yourself from becoming a bridezilla?

Y: No, I don’t have the check, because I feel like this day has got to be executed perfectly. So if it happens that I just so happen to be a bridezilla, then that just kind of comes along with the territory. When you have dreamt of something for over thirty years.

ES: And there’s also the fact that this is a huge TV event.

M: See for me, the TV makes me nervous. Because, you know, when you get up there to say your vows, you’re thinking and trying to speak at the time. You mess up, you stutter, there’s so many people staring at you. You know, you got the WORLD staring at you. So how do you execute this perfectly? So the nerves just…I guarantee I’m going to be sweating and nervous. I already know I’m going to mess up.

ES: Does the aspect that all you’re previous TV work has been pre-taped and this is live fuel that nervousness?

M: Yeah, that’s definitely a curveball.

Y: You know what? I’m not nervous about he and I. I’m nervous about our family, our friends. You know how they say, “Does anyone object this union?” I’m like, “Take that question out, reverend. Thank you.” [Laughs] And I’ve got some crazy cousins that can’t wait to be on camera. I don’t want nobody jumping up. I don’t want anybody twerking.

M: Yeah, you know, she got people that get real extra when the camera comes out.

Y: Yeah!

M: They start voguing. [Laughs]

Y: Yeah! [Laughs]

ES: So did you give your guests a warning, saying like “Hey, it’s live TV. Please be cool,” or something like that?

Y: We put a little thing in the invitation, but I was like “Uhh, maybe we shouldn’t of.” Because now, they’re like, “Oh, it’s on TV? I gotta bring my mink up!” No, it’s May. Or “I gotta get my good shoes on.” No, you have bad ankles. Don’t wear your good shoes because you’re going to fall. So it’s like mentioning TV adds a whole other element. I’m getting calls from relatives in North Carolina that bought their ticket that aren’t invited…

M: That she hasn’t heard from in years.

Y: That I haven’t heard from in 15 years. And it’s like I have this big family feud going on because my mom is getting all this pressure from all these relatives. And she’s like “Yandy, what are you going to do? Your aunt Mavis from North Carolina bought a ticket already.” I’m like “Calm down. Just breathe, Mom.”

ES: You guys have already done the commitment ceremony. Yandy, you’ve already taken Harris as your name…

M: She did not get the last name. She didn’t get a chance to do it.

ES: Really? Because on the show…

Y: It’s a very long process. We’ve started it. We’ve still got the paperwork, but it’s a process that happens over like six months, we’re getting married before that process finalizes. I’m going to be Harris because of our marriage FASTER than changing my name.

ES: Oh, okay. Because you guys have already been through so much and you’ve kind of demonstrated in various ways how committed you are to one another. I’m just curious if the actual marriage ceremony is that necessary, you know?

Y: For me, yes. For him, probably no. For me, I feel like making a commitment before God, before our friends and family is a huge deal. I feel like this is it. This is the culmination of everything we’ve been through. This is where our real journey starts. There’s no more breakup. There’s no more “let’s take a break and figure this out.” This is it. There are no more breaks. And that’s why, for me, this is such a big moment, because I’m the queen of “Ahh, let’s just take a break and figure this out.” But for me to say that there’s no more of that, that’s a big deal.

ES: Mendeecees, this will be the first wedding you’ve ever attended, right?

M: Yeah, this going to be the first one I’ve ever been to.

ES: So what are you expectations?

M: I have no clue. I don’t know if people are going to be dancing. I’m nervous. I don’t know how to dance the first dance. I don’t know if I’ll be stepping on my shoes. I’m just…clueless.

ES: Yandy, can you share with us any details about your wedding dress?

Y: I can give you this. There’s a really famous designer, her name is Pnina. She is a famous wedding dress designer, especially in Israel. She has her own reality show about the dresses she designs. Each dress is hand crafted by her team. She is amazing. Simply amazing. That’s all I can give you.

ES: Are you guys adding any personal touches to the ceremony?

Y: We’re going to say our own vows, if we can find the time to write them.

M: [To Yandy] Have you written yours yet?

Y: I’ve started.

ES: [To Mendeecees] Have you worked on yours?

M: I’ve been freestyling in my head, but I’m going to need to write it down.

ES: What’s the ceremony going to be like? In the web series, you mention the that there will be a huppah. Is there going to be a specific denomination or is going to be like a cross-cultural thing?

Y: Yeah, we’re non-denominational as far as church goes…There’s not much traditional about us, the way we live our lives, but our wedding is pretty much traditional.

ES: Are the kids going to be in the wedding?

M: Yeah!

Y: Absolutely! [Skylar] is walking down with one of her grandmas and she has a beautiful dress. Lil Mendeecees …

M: He’s going to be best man.

ES: Oh, that’s cool!

M: Right?

Y: And Aasim is…he’s the ring bearer. And then Omere is wearing a sign, because my son is a little crazy.

M: [Laughs]

Y: We can’t really trust him to hold anything, so he’s going to wear a sign that says something.

ES: Do the kids get the importance what’s going on?

M: They don’t understand. They’re too young to understand.

Y: [Lil] Mendeecees is excited.

M: Yeah, my oldest son gets it. The two younger ones…

Y: Yeah, they’re like “Whatever.” Let’s just hope they remember how to act right that day.

ES: Mendeecees, did having a daughter change you? Especially after having all sons.

M: Having a daughter, it makes you view women different. It makes you want to be very respectful towards women, because you want people to be respectful towards your daughter.

Tags
Love and Hip Hop New York, Yandy Smith, Yandy and Mendeecees