Venus Williams started the holiday season early and in style this December, marrying her Italian boyfriend Andrea Preti in a week of celebrations in Palm Beach, Florida.
The tennis star, Venus Williams, 45, and her-now husband, 37, had first got married in Italy in September but held another ceremony in the United States because the paperwork in Europe could take months to make their marriage official.
In an interview with Vogue earlier this week, Venus Williams and Preti revealed how they celebrated with close friends and family with six days of luxurious dinners and parties around tying the knot.
And now, Venus Williams added more details about her romantic week – including how the weather nearly let her down.
She told her millions of Instagram followers that Florida was uncharacteristically windy for her wedding week, but she still made the best of the situation after her guests had gathered together.
Sharing a picture from the first dinner party of the week, Venus Williams said: ‘You wouldn’t believe how the wind was blowing outside. But it was calm and lovely inside. I was hoping the bad weather would stave off for the wedding weekend!’
The pictures from her big day seem to show that the weather was no issue but it does seem like they had to contend with gusty winds throughout their week.
The Vogue interview even referenced how the happy couple’s ‘week of events started a full six days before the ceremony and featured a jam-packed itinerary – along with lots of windy weather.’
Venus Williams also told her followers on Instagram that she still maintained her tennis training each morning around the preparations that she needed to stay on top of.
It was on the tennis court earlier this year that she first confirmed her engagement to Preti
She was speaking to the crowd at the DC Open after winning her comeback singles match after 16 months away when she praised the influence and support she had received from Preti.
‘My fiance is here and he really encouraged me to keep playing,’ she said to huge cheers and applause.
‘There were so many times where I just wanted to coast and kind of chill. Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? You guys don’t know how much work goes into this, like it’s 9 to 5 except you’re running the whole time.
‘Lifting weights and just like dying and then you repeat it the next day. So he encouraged me to get through this and it’s wonderful to be here. He’s never seen me play.’