Venus Williams surprised the world yesterday when she announced that she tied the knot not once, but twice, to Andrea Preti. After saying “I do” in Italy in September, they had a wedding in Florida, with festivities that took place over the course of a week. Of course, by her side was her little sister, Serena Williams.
© GettyOn Tuesday, once the news was shared with the world, Serena posted a carousel of images from the special day. Serena did what she always does when it comes to her big sister: she praised her with vulnerable words and love. “My sister’s keeper,” the 23 time Grand Slam winner wrote in the caption, setting the tone immediately.
© GettyShe reflected on their shared journey, "from the backyard courts, to the biggest stages in the world." "You’ve always led with grace, strength, and a heart bigger than any trophy," Serena wrote. She said Venus always led with “grace, strength, and a heart bigger than any trophy,” and described watching her sister step into marriage as “watching the sun rise…steady, powerful, and full of promise.”
Serena, who had Venus by her side at her own wedding to Alexis Ohanian, didn’t just praise Venus as a bride; she honored her as a lifelong constant. She called her sister her built-in best friend, her protector, her teacher, and her reminder to always walk with purpose. Seeing Venus “this happy, this loved, this radiant,” Serena wrote, meant everything to her.
She closed the message about love. “To love, to partnership, to laughter, and to a lifetime of choosing each other every single day,” she wrote. “I couldn’t be prouder to stand beside you, not just today, but always.”
© GettyAnd because this is a Williams-level wedding, the love didn’t stop at words. Every wedding comes with gifts, but when youre a rich celebrity, the bar is understandably higher. In her recent Vogue cover story, Venus revealed one of the most memorable surprises from the week-long celebration: a yacht day gifted by Serena.
© GettyThe week-long experience kicked off with around a dozen of Venus and Andrea’s closest family members and friends, many of whom came all the way from Italy. “We started on Monday. Serena gave us this gift of a beautiful yacht, and she arranged all the food, everything,” she told the outlet.
“We had 10 to 12 of our closest family and friends who were in town on the boat, and we were singing, dancing, gossiping, and just enjoying each other.”
© GettyVenus also revealed in her interview that they enlisted in the help of Jennifer Zabinski of JZ Events, who also planned Serena’s 2017 wedding.
With both Williams sisters married, their families continue to grow and celebrate milestones together.
