Fans of Million Dollar Listing New York will finally get an inside look at Fredrik Eklund's nuptials on Wednesday night.
The Swedish real estate agent married Brit Derek Kaplan on Feb. 9 on Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys. Bravo TV cameras captured the ceremony -- along with "uncomfortable" discussions about a prenuptial agreement and monogamy.
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Ahead of the second season's penultimate episode, which airs at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Eklund talked to The Hollywood Reporter about his wedding, previewed a fight with nemesis Ryan Serhant and revealed why Supreme Court's recent rulings on same-sex marriage were especially important to preserving his relationship with Derek.
The Hollywood Reporter: Can you give viewers a preview of what they'll see in Wednesday's episode?
Fredrik Eklund: I just watched it for the first time with my husband. We cried like babies watching it. It is so beautiful. I think filming a reality show is like jumping off a plane or cliff and hoping a parachute can save you. Bringing the cameras and the production team to a private island and talking about uncomfortable things like prenups and monogamy and actually leading into this beautiful wedding where we got married out in the actual water with the sunset behind us and everyone we love -- I cried a lot. And it's really scary and beautiful and I'm very thankful to Derek for opening up to the camera like that. Obviously, it's something you do once, and there's no turning back after that.
THR: How did you select this particular location for your wedding?
Eklund: We were there for a long weekend in August or September of last year, and as soon as I got on the island, I looked at Derek and I said, "This is the place." I just knew in my heart -- I'm very crazy and opinionated -- and he said, "Babe, we haven't even seen the room or had lunch. We don't know what the food tastes like." But there were palm trees and a pier and white sand and the size of it was 30 bungalows and could accommodate around 60 people, and it was private. Well, it wasn't private only because it's hard to be private when the production team and all the cameras are there. But it was private in that it felt like we were separated from the land; there was water all around us. And having everyone you love there for four days instead of just one or two nights -- I'd go to bed, wake up, see my mom at breakfast, family and friends at lunch.
THR: In June, four months after your wedding, the Supreme Court made its historic ruling declaring that a key section of the Defense of Marriage Act, which restricts federal benefits for gay couples, is unconstitutional. What was your reaction upon hearing the news?
Eklund: It was insane because I got married legally here in New York, and we had been trying to live together for a long time. With Derek being from the U.K., it's been very difficult for us to be honest with you. Although we are recognized in the state of New York, we weren't recognized as a married couple at the federal level. Because of immigration laws, Derek really wasn't for a while able to stay and live with me. We had to look into other avenues, visas. We were obviously hoping and praying it was going to happen, but there was no guarantee. I remember refreshing my browser every three seconds for an hour when they were going to announce it. [When the ruling was announced], I kicked so high my suit exploded. It was a tight suit, and I think it just cracked open. I called Derek, who was visiting my parents, saying, "You should come home." I was crying and screaming up and down. It was unbelievable. It was just the most amazing feeling. I called my parents, everyone.
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THR: Had the two of you talked about what might happen if the Supreme Court had ruled another way?
Eklund: It could have been over for us. It was one of those moments where you didn't want to think about the alternative. I thought in my heart it might happen [the way he wanted it to], but of course I wasn't sure. No one could be sure. I felt very proud to be in America and proud to be part of everything. It was one of the happiest days of my life.
THR: What else will viewers see in the season's final two episodes?
Eklund: We had some drama, like every wedding has. It was stressful and really beautiful. I'm happy because a show like this is so high pressure and a big deal and there are big negotiations and attorneys and buyers and sellers, and it doesn't show enough of our softer sides. I have that side in me as you will see Wednesday when the episode comes out, and I'm happy about that. Derek always says to me, "There are two Fredriks." The season finale is very dramatic. We filmed with Donald Trump and Ivanka, and they gave me a project -- I'm not going to say what happened, but they are obviously the biggest names in real estate. I was honored by that. There also is a big fight -- there is no other right word for it -- between me and Ryan that was a long time coming.
Million Dollar Listing New York airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. Watch preview of Wednesday night's episode, which is exclusive to The Hollywood Reporter, below.
