Some moments don’t need a press release or a red carpet; they simply unfold in sunlight, in soft fabrics, in the quiet certainty of two people choosing each other. That’s the energy Venus Williams carried into Instagram this week, offering the world a rare glimpse into the day Andrea Preti asked her to marry him.
The photos, taken on January 31, feel less like a grand announcement and more like a collection of memories gently placed on a table. Venus in a white halter dress, Andrea in a cheetah-print shirt, the two of them leaning into each other as if whispering secrets only they understand. Harry, her beloved senior pup, makes an appearance too — tucked in her arms, receiving a kiss from Preti, reminding everyone that a good love story always includes the family dog.
Their year together has unfolded almost like a side plot in Venus’ comeback season. She confirmed their engagement in July, a year after they were first linked, and has kept most of the romance tucked safely away from the spotlight. Still, every so often it slips through the cracks — like the moment she casually told a post-match crowd, “My fiancé is here, and he really encouraged me to keep playing.”
Signs of their upcoming life together appeared long before the photos did. While in Italy, Venus was spotted wearing a sun hat embroidered with “SIG.RA PRETI,” a playful nod to the Italian word for “Mrs.” She paired it with a white dress and black tennis shoes while riding through Sant’Angelo, surrounded by friends wearing “Team Groom” and “Team Bride” shirts. It was the kind of scene that feels stolen from a dreamy European rom-com.
Behind the scenes, Serena Williams has been the unofficial project manager of the wedding — a role she plays with her signature mix of humour and competence. She has talked openly about helping her sister juggle endless planning decisions, from dresses to hairstyles. At one point, Venus wanted fourteen hairstyle options. Serena had them analysed, finalised and organised into a PDF within thirty minutes. It’s the kind of sisterhood that feels both practical and deeply tender.
Andrea Preti, the Italian actor and producer she married in a private Italian ceremony in September, brings his own layered story to their partnership. Born in Italy, raised partly in Denmark, trained in New York, he has the kind of international background that fits seamlessly beside Venus’ global life.
Now, as she steps into 2026 with a confirmed spot at the ASB Classic in New Zealand, Venus carries both her comeback energy and her newly married glow. The engagement photos aren’t just images; they’re markers of a year that reshaped her life on and off the court.
