(NewsNation) — Venus Williams has officially tied the knot with Italian actor Andrea Preti, months after a series of smaller wedding ceremonies.

Williams and Preti exchanged “I dos” on Dec. 21 in Palm Beach, Florida, in a six-day celebration, the tennis champion and her new husband told Vogue. However, that wasn’t originally the plan.

“We had this dream to do our wedding in Italy,” Williams said. “But we didn’t have enough time to do the paperwork — because I’m a foreigner, it can take about eight months. So, we decided to have a second wedding.”

Preti and the seven-time grand slam champion wed 11 months after they got engaged.

According to Vogue, before their official Palm Beach wedding, Venus’ sister Serena Williams hosted family and friends on a yacht followed by a boudoir-themed bridal shower, a dinner for their family and friends at member’s only club Sopra in Miami and then a sports day.

The couple officially got married on Dec. 20 in a private courthouse ceremony at Miami City Hall.

“I can’t describe how beautiful, calm, sacred, exciting, and exalting it was,” Williams said. “It was just a dream.”

“For me, the courthouse ceremony was very unique, emotional, and deep. It was the second-best day of my life,” Preti told Vogue.

Saturday’s ceremony was held at their home, with the tennis superstar wearing a custom Georges Hobeika dress.

“I wanted to wear a dress that I thought Andrea would love,” she told Vogue. “And that was magical and perfect for a Florida wedding.”

Venus Williams and Andrea Preti met in 2024

Williams and Preti met in the early summer of 2024 and were spotted on a yacht along the Amalfi Coast near Nerrano, Italy, according to NewsNation’s Paula Froelich.

In January 2025, Williams posted a story on her Instagram of the couple in the Bahamas calling Preti, “The best company.”

A month later, in February 2025, Williams was seen at a tennis training camp wearing a large engagement ring.

NewsNation’s Paula Froelich contributed to this report.