Venus Williams has built her career on preparation and long-term thinking, and she applied that same mindset before saying yes to marriage.
On the morning of the Palm Beach wedding, the couple sat down with Venus’ sister, Serena Williams, for an episode of their podcast, Stockton Street, where Venus outlined the specific criteria she weighed before committing.
According to Venus, one of the biggest considerations had nothing to do with romance. “You marry [one’s] family,” she said. “That’s why I always tell people, when you get married and you’re thinking about a relationship for eternity, it’s about good family, good values, [and whether the person] has a job.”
Work ethic was another non-negotiable. Venus acknowledged that every relationship has its own dynamics, but said a refusal to work can create long-term issues. “People have to work,” she said. “So if they don’t work, it could present a problem, depending on your situation.”
She added that a lack of stability in those areas can have real consequences inside a marriage. “If you marry into a chaotic and tough family, you’re going to be affected,” Venus explained, noting that unemployment can also add “a lot of pressure” and “stress” to a partnership.
While attraction still mattered, Venus made it clear it wasn’t the foundation of her decision. “Of course, attraction has to be there,” she said, “but you can be attracted to someone because of their family, their values, and because they take care of themselves.”
Preti, who joined the conversation, described married life as “a dream come true,” and spoke openly about feeling welcomed by the Williams family. “Your family is incredible,” he told Venus and Serena. “From the first time, I always felt part of it… your mom treats me like a son.”