Venus In Love: The Knot Cover Story Interview With Venus Williams & Andrea Preti

Venus Williams is in love (no, not that kind). In her first joint print interview with husband Andrea Preti, the newlyweds open up about their multiple weddings, the moments that mattered most and what greatness means in marriage.

Venus Williams The Knot 30th Anniversary Issue cover

Photography by Sophie Elgort,Dress by Natali & Meital; shoes by Manolo Blahnik; jewelry by Messika

Updated Apr 28, 2026

ALL SIGNS POINT TO VENUS. February 2026 is the moment when the glowing planet is astrologically most prominent: As the cosmic entity sits lowest in the sky during the winter months, she is the star of a rare six-planetary alignment. Astrology buffs like me are fascinated.

Stories to Read in The Knot 30th Anniversary Issue

Fortuitously, this is also the moment when we've scheduled our shoot for The Knot with another star by that name: Venus Williams. It's slated over a long holiday weekend in Palm Beach, Florida, and the timing is relief-laden, with planes full of New Yorkers heading for the sunny state to escape one of the Northeast's coldest winters on record.

It's the culmination of one of the most exciting life stretches on record for the multihyphenate, too, and we have arrived to extend her marital moment. It's been two months since the storied tennis player-turned-entrepreneur married actor-director Andrea Preti, over the course of a six-day celebration in Palm Beach, her longtime hometown.

Stories to Read in The Knot 30th Anniversary Issue

Venus first moved to the East Coast when she and her sister Serena were burgeoning preteen athletes under the tutelage of coach Rick Macci. In the years since, they became arguably two of the most renowned figures in tennis; certainly they're the most iconic siblings ever to play the sport. Starting in the 2000s, Venus ascended to record-shattering heights in the sport, clinching a total of 23 Grand Slam titles and becoming a five-time Olympic medalist.

While achieving this excellence in her athletic career, in 2002 she also set her sights on another personal and professional objective: establishing her own architectural-design firm, V Starr. Its portfolio of projects has included the Spa at PGA National Resort in Palm Springs, as well as private residential projects. But back to sisterhood: It's evident that the Williams family bond runs deep. In pop culture, we saw the sacrifice and commitment that accompanied the sisters' ascension in tennis in the Oscar-nominated 2021 film King Richard. Off the court, we've seen their devotion to family across many life milestones, including our favorite topic—weddings. So it was only fitting for Venus to bring her own wedding back to the South Floridian island she has called home for 35-plus years. Palm Beach is where she and Andrea chose to sign their wedding license, where they opted to host their second wedding (more on that in a bit) and, of course, where the couple is now settled in marriage.

"My favorite moment of our Florida wedding was signing the license," says Venus. "We had someone who knew someone at City Hall, so they helped us set everything up. We had a start time for hair and makeup at three-thirty in the morning, because we got [to City Hall] at 6 a.m. [so] we could take our pictures. West Palm Beach City Hall is beautiful—it's modern—and the historical city hall is across the street. That way, we could get there early and do our thing, and we didn't have to worry about someone [else] taking a picture. We wanted to keep it private."

The couple arrived to a sun-dappled, serene morning overlooking West Palm. "We got to go upstairs, where they have these incredible views of the water on the 10th floor. We have these beautiful photos of ourselves sitting on the bench, waiting to be called into City Hall—we got to capture that moment," she continues. "It was beautiful. And getting the actual license: We didn't know we had to sign the license there—we just thought we got the paper. But the signing moment itself was just so beautiful, with our older sister Isha; it was great to have her there. I just wish …" Venus turns to her husband. "I wish your mom and dad and your brother could have come, because they would have enjoyed that." (More on that later as well.)

For Andrea, too, the marriage license was one of the most emotional moments of the entire experience. "It's a dream," he says. "Because if you thought for all your life that you want to get married one day, and you want to have a family, and the day comes? You know that, of course, you have to [feel it]: That's the day. The emotions I had inside were fireworks—'Yeah, we made it. You know, we are here today. Now let's start, start our new journey together.' Sometimes I cannot talk. I release my emotions. I cry, but I cry with joy, yes. I always wanted to have a family." He turns to Venus and caresses her hand. "And I think, in the deepest part of your heart," he intones, "you wanted that too. It was a dream for us."

WHAT THE PUBLIC HADN'T SEEN, until that point, was that the couple had already quietly exchanged vows in Ischia, Italy, the previous September. The ceremony in Andrea's home country was as much a gesture to the groom's family as it was to commemorate their love in the place where their whirlwind romance had started. Oh, yes, did we mention that these two met at Milan Fashion Week, in 2024? Venus was in Lake Como with her sisters and decided to attend a party hosted by Gucci, a spur-of-the-moment decision that sparked a series of aftereffects. Andrea spotted her there and commented on her striking beauty; little did he realize that the object of his desire was multilingual, with a high fluency in Italian, his native language. With the chemistry clear, Venus' sister Lyndrea Price, who was on the scene for the meet-cute, pushed the two to continue the conversation (via WhatsApp, of all platforms).

It quickly became clear that this fateful encounter was growing to become more. "He was a normal person," says Venus. "Such as: He wanted to call me. A lot of people don't want to call or talk on the phone in this day and age of dating. People are like, 'Why didn't he text [you] where the restaurant was before the first date?' [But] he did all the right things. He took the time and the energy to come see me. We met in Italy, and then the next week I was in London, and he took the time to come all the way [there]. A lot of people wouldn't do that. They're just too wrapped up in themselves." She pauses. "Those were all really good signals."

IMAGINE ISCHIA DURING the shoulder-season months, the crisp Mediterranean Sea filling the sultry September air with cool, salty breezes. For the anticipatory excitement of loved ones gathered under a star-studded sky, Venus and Andrea thought a nighttime beach-volleyball tournament would be the most appropriate way to kick off their wedding festivities in his home country.

"We wanted really fun ideas that our friends and family—that we—could remember," she says. And what would a Williams wedding be without the sport of choice? "We actually had a little tennis tournament. It was more fun than you can imagine," she reflects. "It was beautiful. The courts—you could see the sea in one distance and the mountains and the net. I was like, 'This is the most beautiful tennis court ever. I want to practice and train [at this same exact court back] in Florida.'"

Such festivities unraveled at the Punta Imperatore Lighthouse in Ischia, followed by a reception at famed establishment L'Isola with fare by Michelin-starred chef Nino Di Costanzo. Guests were also able to enjoy a fireworks display at the end of the wedding. "It was wild, it was wonderful. I was screaming," Venus says. "It was the craziest show. That was [Andrea's] surprise for me [in Italy]. It was just one of the best moments. I love fireworks, so it was great."

Of course, the seasoned professionals who help facilitate all of these magical moments are a need-to-have, not a nice-to-have. Enter Jennifer Zabinski of JZ Events, the go-to event planner for the Williams family, who subsequently oversaw the execution for their Palm Beach wedding week. "At the heart of every event they host is a simple philosophy: friends and family first," Zabinski says. "Having that as the guiding force made decisions feel clear and collaborative, and ensured the entire week stayed true to what mattered most to them."

The first wedding had also came with a few learnings, after which Venus knew exactly what she wanted come December for their weeklong celebration back in the US. Affectionately nick-named the "marathon wedding," weeklong events have become ever more extravagant and thoughtful, especially for couples who want to introduce their guests to a special place. For Venus and Andrea, that was their home.

"[It] felt both exciting and deeply familiar for our team. We have had the good fortune of producing events in the area for many years, so we were able to lean on a trusted network of exceptional local partners to help shape an unforgettable week," says Zabinski. "We also came into the planning process with a strong understanding of the family's style and how they like to entertain. We've produced multiple weddings and celebrations for them over the past nine years." Indeed, Zabinski was also the force behind Serena's wedding to Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian in New Orleans in November 2017; Serena also hired her for friend Meghan Markle's baby shower in 2019.

Venus and Andrea were unable to make their marriage legal in Ischia, so the two brought that part of the celebration back to the US as well. "In Italy, it takes a while to get paperwork for a wedding with a foreigner. We didn't have enough time to do it," Venus explains. "It takes, like, months and months. That just wouldn't have worked. So we had to have a second wedding. And we decided, 'What a great opportunity, to have two weddings.'"

When planning their stateside nuptials, the couple initially wanted to keep things small. Yet the guest list soon grew, as did the festivities and the wardrobe. The ultimate order of events ran as follows: day 1, a yacht party; day 2, the bridal shower; day 3, a pool party with a Miami outing at an exclusive members' club; day 4, a sports day to honor Venus' illustrious and decorated athletic career (tennis, of course, among the options); day 5, the sunrise civil ceremony, a morning of presence for the pair; and day 6, the culmination of it all, the wedding and reception.

According to The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study, the guest experience is the top priority for couples as they're planning. Clearly, giving their community an intentional multiday experience was top of mind for these to-be-weds. "Another detail that felt quintessentially 'them'—even with all the moving pieces and production underway—is that they still hosted daily pool parties at home throughout the week," Zabinski says. "It was such a thoughtful way to keep the celebration grounded. It provided an opportunity for guests to relax and connect in smaller groups between the larger events."

And that, to Venus, was exactly the point. "The wedding, for me, was about celebrating with the people we loved and making it an experience for everyone. And so for that reason, it was very experiential," Venus says. "Everything that we did—the bridesmaids' luncheon, for example, wasn't just a lunch; it was about everyone involved."

However well anyone plans, snafus are bound to occur, which is why it's always helpful to outsource support and maintain a positive attitude. "Wedding planning is definitely stressful, because just as soon as you think you're done, there's more to do," Venus admits. "[A planner] takes the stress off so you can enjoy the moment. I loved working with [my wedding team], and they made me feel good. Sometimes in weddings, you just need someone to help, especially as a bride. Like, if you're in a dress, you can't walk anywhere. I [am the type to] do everything for myself. But in that moment, someone gets you water, someone helps you get your phone. Those are things you don't think you need, but you do."

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It was in that blissful state during her Italian wedding that Venus added to her state of euphoria with a serendipitous accident. "I broke my phone that week, and I didn't fix it. It was wonderful," she says. "So I would recommend breaking your phone, because you just get to be in the moment. It was great. I love that story—it was like, 'I don't even care. I'm so happy. It's broken.' When I got back to the computer at night, that's when I got the text messages. You don't realize how many things happen, how many things come up, how many things need to be taken care of. It's going to be things and things and things and things." (None of which she had to stress about in the moment.)

WHAT YOU, THE READER, DON'T SEE is the couple's dog, Harry (short for Harold), on set, his petite tush nestled up against me on a couch in a suite at the Palm House on Royal Palm Way. At my one-on-one with Venus, the loyal canine joins us on the couch and comfortably looks to his mom with the same unflappable radiance she carries with grace. After all, Harold has lived 18 years of greatness himself, traveling the world by Venus' side through all the championships—and now with a dad.

It did, however, take a few months for Harold and Andrea to get acquainted. "He met Harold in August, and I was actually getting a surgery, so I was, you know, in the hospital," says Venus. "And Harry was so demanding—he scratched at the door, he kept crying until he was put onto the bed, he cried until he ate. He's a very quiet dog, but like, when he wants something, he lets you know." (It goes without saying that what Harry likely really wanted was Andrea for a dad, and for his mom to recover.)

As things turned out, both of them have come to support Williams on our set—Harold cradled in Andrea's arms, as Venus holds court with our staff. "They're bosom buddies," she says. "They take naps together, they go places. They go to breakfast in the morning when I'm sleeping." Zabinski, for her part, couldn't agree more. "Harry was the sweetest constant. He attended every single event," she says. "He's the center of their world, and having him there made the entire week feel even more personal and joyful."

Backyard weddings have been a hot commodity ever since the premiere of Father of the Bride, but a wedding week spanning both the backyard and the playground of South Florida? Such was the case for Venus and Andrea. "We designed the ceremony and dinner layouts around the natural landscape of the backyard, rather than leveling the space with flooring," says Zabinski. "And we transformed the pool area and driveway into a stunning reception setting. They were unwavering about not compromising on that intention, and the result felt exactly as they envisioned: elegant, personal and rooted in the place that means the most to them."

One place where Andrea's voice mattered significantly, Venus reflects, was in the catering. "I wanted him to be involved in things he cared about—like he loves, loves food," she says. "So I wanted to make sure he loved the food. There were certain things he probably didn't care as much about, [and] certain things that mattered more to him and less to me, or more to me and less to him. So it was a balance. It was easy."

The main question for Venus throughout the whole process—especially given her role as co-chair for the 2026 Met Gala—was: What would she wear? Embarking on wedding planning with a specific vision for fashion required some professional support, so the bride enlisted stylists Kesha McLeod and Kyla Thomas to help curate her week-of wardrobe. "This was actually my first time working with Venus. I've worked with her sister [Serena] for over 10 years and styled her wedding, so she approached me about assisting V for this US-based celebration," says McLeod, who joined The Knot team on set in Palm Beach to style her in her bridal looks (a reunion of sorts). "Venus had already had her Italian wedding in September, so this was a completely different moment. For me, the macro vision was simple: to make sure she felt comfortable and understood. The great thing about Venus is that she is incredibly creative. You see that even on the court. She already had a full vision [for the wedding]. My role was to execute it and elevate it where I could. It was about bringing her ideas to life on a grand scale, while keeping everything intentional."

In total, loved ones and fans saw 14 distinct ensembles on Venus throughout the week; much as her wedding events grew with time, so did her wardrobe—an intentional decision made by the bride and her stylist. "I don't even call it a wedding day—it's a wedding event," McLeod elaborates. "It was about assigning the right look to the right moment. V had a clear understanding of what fit where and what energy each event required. When she showed me her inspiration board, she said, 'I know this is a lot.' I told her, 'Give me everything. Let me see the full vision.' Then I asked, 'Can we make this bigger? Can we elevate this even more?' That's how I approach styling. I take someone's vision, execute it and then scale it appropriately. And if there's ever a time to scale, it's your wedding." Handpicked designers included Kim Kassas Couture (bridal shower), Nadia Manjarrez (sports day), Morilee New York (courthouse ceremony), Alexandra Grecco (preceremony cocktails), Anne Barge (reception dinner), Eve of Milady (getting ready) and more ( ... is more). For the wedding itself, the bride went custom with a piece by Georges Hobeika, a choice that was both deliberate and yet also part of a painstaking decision-making process.

"It really came down to the wire for the ceremony dress," recalls McLeod. "We had one final fitting the night before, and we were still planning to try another option the morning of. We tried on 22 dresses. I look at clothes every day, so my attachment is usually to the garment, not necessarily the moment. But when she put on the Georges Hobeika dress, which became her ceremony gown—and she put it on literally an hour before the ceremony for us to decide—I just started crying. We had spent two months in nonstop fittings. With makeup, without makeup, quick try-ons, veil moments, flowers, champagne—so many different versions of her in white. And in that moment something just shifted. She recently sent me a picture of [myself] standing there, crying. I had to step away for a second. Even though we technically still had other options, it felt like 'This is it.'"

BACK TO THE MARRIAGE LICENSE: Is it official? We know the couple obtained and signed it at City Hall, but what comes next? Well, when you're Venus Williams, of course there's an added layer to the story. "My sister Serena is a notary. So she actually was legally the person who married us. Andrea's friend was Italian, so he translated it," Venus recounts, explaining this was for a few dozen Italian loved ones who'd flown in for the wedding. "Then our sister Isha did a lot of the ceremony. Then Serena stepped in and did the legal part. And then we actually had to sign the papers—we were too busy, so we [did that] a couple days later. But we had a little moment where we, like, were able to sign it all together. And it was really nice. And Serena was there, and she made sure we signed it and got everything."

Now the couple is basking in marriage. When I ask them what a typical Sunday morning looks like, Andrea tells me: "I wake up. I take him"—he points to Harold—"breakfast, then come back. Then I wake her up, she goes to [weekly] service, or we do our things. We like to play sports, normally. We go to lunch with family. We stay together. We enjoy simple things. I think the most important thing for a couple is to always keep the simple things going every single day. We focus on simple things, the small things. Small things make a difference. If you start to forget about it, the small things together in a relationship, it's not good anymore." It all returns to intention—which Andrea displayed from the very onset of their courtship. "She's a choice. Every day, those small things are also a choice. You don't want to take for granted these types of things," he says. "Every morning, we say, 'Good morning. I love you.' I do it because I feel [it], but I also know that this is the right thing to do. To keep a relationship always here, and not, like, let it [decline or fall apart]."

Andrea joins Venus and me on that couch; Harold posts up beside them too. And here's what happens next: Somehow the couch expands, or the love and presence evident between this couple enlarges the room. It's similar to Venus' wedding wardrobe, and the volume of wedding events, all executed with thought and care. Their tender love is continuing to grow after the wedding, creating space to let others bask in their joy and receive it. "I think it's a wonderful feeling [to be in love]. I think it's one thing if you love someone, but you're not ready to spend your life [together]," says Venus. "But when you love someone and you're ready to spend your life with someone, it's just an amazing feeling. And it makes all the process that you're going through, like planning and doing—all the stages of getting married—super special, because you really love that person in a way that maybe you didn't love before."

Their affinity is clear from Andrea's words as well: "I tell you, I am very protective of her. I always look at her. I can see it in her eyes, just by watching her eyes, I understand how she feels, what you need," he says, turning to his wife, then back again. "And I'm always very focused [on making sure] that everything is okay with her. This is also the kind of attention that I like to have on my wife—[I make sure] she [feels] safe, if she is like, 'Okay, I feel good.'" For 30-plus years, Venus has been unrelenting in her pursuit of greatness on the court, a practice she has carried over to her design firm, and now to marriage. "I think how I've always seen greatness is about the effort, because you can be great and sometimes still not get the result," she says. "So greatness doesn't always produce a result, but it produces something that you can learn from and grow from. And however you approach something, whatever you put into it, you're going to get out what you give. So for me, greatness was always about how I could give my best mentally, physically, emotionally. And if I had done that, I was great."

Reflecting on how this translates to a relationship, Venus continues: "I think over time, you know, you can start holding hands less, and this, that [and] the other, because it becomes a routine. But always being present, and realizing that once again you're going to get what you get out of it.… You know, we already know each other. So for me, greatness would be to continue to give that effort, even when it seems like you might not want to." She pauses, then goes on. "I want to succeed, and I know that to succeed, I need to give the same effort in the beginning and in each stage."

For with Venus Williams, now in love, greatness is expected—then, now and beyond.

Cover Story Credits

Photography by Sophie Elgort
Styled by Kesha McLeod
Hair by Angela Meadows
Makeup by Natasha Gross
Florals by Wellington Florals
Shot on location at Palm House, Palm Beach FL
On Set Producer: Gillian Avertick/Inner Circle NYLA
Pearl Illustrations Throughout: Mariana Rodrigues

Venus Williams Wedding Photos

As part of her cover story moment with The Knot, Williams and Preti shared several photos from their multiple weddings. "Venus has been photographed by some of the greatest photographers in the world," says photographer David Bastianoni. "Our approach was to keep everything very natural and respectful of the moment, blending an editorial eye with a documentary sensitivity. I am also very grateful to Jennifer from JZ Events for making everything possible and for bringing us together."