Venus Williams’ wedding: Tennis legend wore 12 dresses for week-long party

Venus Williams wore a dozen dresses for her week-long wedding celebrations with Andrea Preti in Florida. Photo / Getty Images

Venus Williams wore a dozen dresses for her wedding celebrations.

The 45-year-old tennis legend officially tied the knot with Andrea Preti in Florida earlier this month, after a ceremony in Italy in September, and their US festivities spanned a week, giving the sportswoman plenty of time for her multiple wardrobe changes.

For the legal courthouse ceremony, Williams wore a custom Morilee New York gown and the brand had given her a lot to choose from – but she didn’t leave the building in the same outfit.

She told America’s Vogue magazine: “I asked for one dress. They made 10 dresses, all custom.

“The dress I ended up wearing was just divine. I also had an outfit to wear when we left so I wouldn’t draw attention to myself. It was a classic short skirt and top, and I had the perfect headpiece for it.”

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On the day of their home wedding celebration, Williams wore “the most incredible” Georges Hobieka gown, teamed with jewellery from Messika.

“I got the most amazing nails by Gina Edwards, and I wore the most incredible dress by Georges Hobeika,” she said.

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

Preti said: “When I saw Venus, she was beautiful, like a goddess. I was crying and happy.”

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Williams had been unable to try on her “magical and perfect” gown before the wedding but a sample wasn’t available.

“I was in Paris for a day, and I said, ‘I have to go try this dress’. It was during Fashion Week.

“It was crazy but somehow we made it work.

“I wanted my sister [Isha] to come up, and when she did, she started crying. It was just perfect. The way it sparkles, the transparency – it reminds me of the ocean and sea.”

Williams also donned bridal looks from Natali + Meital, Veni Infantino and Eve of Milady, and she had a special outfit for a sports day for their guests, which featured volleyball, tennis, dodgeball, wheelbarrow races and pickleball.

She said: “I didn’t want to be the team captain – I just wanted to be on the team with my husband.

“I was mostly focused on just looking cute. When I was going through the obstacle course, I kept thinking about how I didn’t want to break the strap on my dress.”

And Williams admitted her stylist Kesha McLeod was taken aback when she announced her idea to have multiple bridal looks.

“I like to have a lot of fun,” she said. “I couldn’t pick one dress, and then Kesha came on board.

“She didn’t realise I was so crazy.”