For a woman who has spent decades dominating center court, Venus Williams is no stranger to high-stakes moments and global stages. But in late 2025, the seven-time Grand Slam champion traded her tennis whites for custom couture, celebrating a new kind of victory: her marriage to Italian actor and producer Andrea Preti. The union was so significant it required two ceremonies—one in the sun-drenched hills of Italy and another in the tropical elegance of Florida—blending the couple’s international heritage into a week-long masterclass in modern romance.
A Tale of Two Ceremonies
The couple’s journey to the altar was as strategic as a championship match. On September 18, 2025, they first exchanged vows on the volcanic island of Ischia, Italy. While the destination was a dream, Venus revealed to Vogue that legal logistics for foreigners in Italy can take nearly a year.
“We had this dream to marry in Italy, but the paperwork takes about eight months,” she explained. This hurdle led to their official legal ceremony on December 19, 2025, at a Palm Beach courthouse at the quiet hour of 6:45 a.m.
The Florida Celebration: A Williams Family Production
The stateside festivities were a five-day marathon of luxury and intimacy, orchestrated by Jennifer Zabinski—the same visionary behind Serena Williams’ 2017 nuptials.
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The Yacht Gift: The week kicked off with a private yacht excursion gifted by Serena, complete with custom catering for a tight-knit circle of 12.
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The Bridal Wardrobe: Venus showcased a rotation of world-class designs, including a custom Morilee New York gown for the courthouse and a sheer, beaded Georges Hobeika mermaid-style gown for the main event.
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A Sporty Spirit: True to her roots, one day of the celebration was dedicated to a “sports day” featuring volleyball, dodgeball, and pickleball. “I didn’t want to be the team captain,” Venus joked. “I just wanted to be on the team with my husband.”
Music and Memory
The ceremony was underscored by deeply personal tributes. Preti entered with his mother to the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There,” while Venus walked down the aisle to “Ovunque Sarai” by Italian artist Irama—a poignant nod to her grandmother who passed away during the pandemic. After exchanging self-written vows in both English and Italian, the couple recessed to the jubilant sounds of Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.”
The Man Who Encouraged the Comeback
While the wedding was a spectacle, the foundation of the relationship is rooted in mutual support. Venus credited the 37-year-old Preti—an Italian-raised, Danish-born actor known for his work in A Professor and Temptation—with motivating her 2025 return to the WTA tour.
“My fiancé really encouraged me to keep playing,” Venus shared during a post-match interview in D.C. “There were so many times where I just wanted to coast. He encouraged me to get through this.”
A New Chapter
From their first meeting at Milan Fashion Week in 2024 to their Tuscany engagement in January 2025, the couple has moved with a blend of privacy and poise. For Venus, who has long been candid about her contentment with the single life and her refusal to yield to societal pressures, this marriage marks a deliberate and joyful choice.
As the couple closed their celebration at Sophia’s Hobe Sound, surrounded by family and the quiet roar of the Atlantic, it was clear that the world’s most famous “built-in best friend,” Serena, was right: it was the sight of a legend “loved and radiant,” finally finding a partner who matches her pace.
