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Venus Williams just made Met Gala history as a married woman. The tennis legend, age 45, stunned the red carpet tonight alongside her new husband, Italian-Danish actor Andrea Preti, 37, marking their first major debut as a married couple. After tying the knot twice in 2025, they’re cementing their love on fashion’s biggest night.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Two Ceremonies in 2025: Venus and Andrea said ‘I do’ on September 18 in Ischia, Italy, then again on December 19 in Palm Beach, Florida
- Met Gala First: Tonight marks their first red carpet appearance together as husband and wife at the 2026 Met Gala
- Venus as Co-Chair: The tennis champion is serving as co-chair alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour
- Whirlwind Romance: The couple met at Milan Fashion Week in 2024 and got engaged January 31, 2025 in Tuscany
A Serendipitous Meeting That Changed Everything
Neither expected to be there that day. Venus was on a sisters’ trip to Lake Como when she received a last-minute invitation to the Gucci show at Milan Fashion Week in 2024. Andrea, exhausted from work, almost skipped it entirely. But fate intervened at the brand’s exclusive aperitivo upstairs at the venue. “I saw V and wanted to introduce myself,” Andrea recalled to Vogue. “She was on the sofa with her friends and family.” He told her she was beautiful, and she responded in Italian. From that brief conversation, something electric sparked.
After the show, they met up in London where Venus invited him to breakfast with her powerful family circle. “It’s not easy to sit around the table with powerful women,” Venus told Vogue. “He came, and he held his own.” She later invited him to host the Serpentine Gala in Kensington Gardens. That’s when Venus knew. “People always say they just know, and I just knew.”
Venus Williams marries actor Andrea Preti in 2025, makes Met Gala debut as married couple
Venus Williams co-chairs 2026 Met Gala in New York wearing Swarovski crystal gown
The Proposal: A Wish Come True in Tuscany
Six months after their chance meeting, love turned into forever. On January 31, 2025, Andrea proposed in Tuscany after couples massages and dinner. “Do you want to hear my wish?” he asked Venus as they gazed at the stars. When she turned around, the ring was in his pocket. “I couldn’t stop jumping up and down and laughing,” Venus revealed, “because that’s what I do when I win big matches.” The moment captured pure, unfiltered joy as she said yes to the man who had already won her heart completely.
| Event | Date & Location |
| First Meeting | July 2024, Milan Fashion Week |
| Engagement | January 31, 2025, Tuscany |
| First Wedding | September 18, 2025, Ischia, Italy |
| Second Wedding Ceremony | December 19, 2025, Palm Beach, Florida |
“I’m beyond the phase of sneaking around. After spending six years single, I was looking for something simple and straightforward.”
— Venus Williams, speaking to Vogue about seeking genuine love
Two Weddings, One Love Story: Italy to Florida
The couple dreams of celebrating in Andrea’s homeland came alive in September 2025. They married privately on September 18 in Ischia, Italy, cementing their union in the place where Andrea’s roots run deep. But the couple wanted more, so five months later, Venus and Andrea threw an unforgettable five-day celebration in Palm Beach. Each day overflowed with charm, from yacht parties and sports competitions to a courthouse wedding that felt sacred and intimate. Venus wore over 14 different looks throughout the week, each one a testament to her creative vision and Andrea’s support.
“For me, the courthouse ceremony was very unique, emotional, and deep,” Andrea confessed to Vogue. “It was the second-best day of my life.” The couple even brought Andrea’s 25 closest family members from Italy to share in the American celebration. Sister Serena Williams arranged everything, gifting them a beautiful yacht and orchestrating magical moments that made the week unforgettable.
Why Does This Met Gala Moment Mean So Much?
Tonight’s red carpet appearance matters more than any typical celebrity moment. Venus is not just attending the 2026 Met Gala as a guest, she’s co-chairing the event alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Vogue’s Anna Wintour. Her presence alongside her husband of several months proves to the world that love is real and transformative. After spending six years single and focused on her tennis career, Venus found partnership that fuels her ambition rather than compromise it. Andrea encouraged her during her recent comeback at the D.C. Open, reminding her to push through when she wanted to coast. Now they’re walking one of fashion’s most iconic events as a united front, sending a powerful message about finding love when you least expect it.
