Tennis icon Venus Williams has officially tied the knot with her Italian partner, actor and model Andrea Preti, in a beautiful second ceremony held in Florida over the weekend. The celebration comes several months after the couple first exchanged vows in Italy last September.
A Romantic Week of Lavish Celebrations
The happy couple marked their union with six days of luxurious dinners and parties in the exclusive enclave of Palm Beach, Florida, surrounded by their closest friends and family. In an interview with Vogue, Williams revealed that her sister, fellow tennis great Serena Williams, gifted them a stunning yacht which hosted guests during the festivities.
"Serena gave us this gift of a beautiful yacht, and she arranged all the food, everything," Venus shared, describing the start of the romantic week. "We had 10 to 12 of our closest family and friends who were in town on the boat, and we were singing, dancing, gossiping, and just enjoying each other."
Why Two Wedding Ceremonies?
The decision to hold a second ceremony was a practical one. Williams, 45, and 37-year-old Preti initially married in Italy in September, but the official paperwork to confirm that union can take up to eight months to process. To formalise their marriage sooner and celebrate with family who couldn't attend the Italian event, they opted for a U.S. ceremony.
Preti's family travelled to the United States just before Christmas, and the couple hosted a series of intimate dinners and pool parties in the lead-up to the main event. During the service itself, Williams recited her vows in both English and Italian, with celebrations continuing into the early hours of Saturday morning.
"It was just the happiest, most beautiful, sweetest day," Venus said of the occasion. Preti added, "When I saw Venus, she was beautiful, like a goddess. I was crying and happy."
From a Milan Fashion Show to a London Breakfast
The couple's love story began in 2024 at a fashion show in Milan, which Williams nearly skipped. "I was in Lake Como on a sisters’ trip when I got an invite at the last minute and decided to go on a whim, and Andrea was tired. Neither of us was planning on being there," she explained to Vogue.
After that first meeting in Italy, their romance blossomed over a breakfast date in London. "I just knew I was going to marry him," Williams recalled. "People always say they just know, and I just knew."
Williams first publicly revealed their engagement in July after winning a comeback match at the DC Open, crediting Preti's encouragement for her return to the court after a 16-month hiatus. She shared the news with the crowd, saying, "My fiancé is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing."
The tennis star shared joyful pictures from the Florida wedding on Instagram this Tuesday, with one image appearing to show sister Serena singing alongside a band. The celebrations mark the culmination of a whirlwind romance that has captivated fans of the sporting legend.
