‘Summer House: MV’ Star Preston Talks Having His Fiancé in the House for Season 2 (EXCLUSIVE)

While not everyone on the first season of Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard made it to the season finale, one castmate — Preston Mitchum — left fans wanting more after the eight-episode season wrapped.

Preston quickly became one of the fan favorites in the house. From the moment he calmly and succinctly gathered his friends to critique the term “Black Excellence,” it was apparent that Preston was ready to educate during a good time.

In Season 1 of Summer House: Martha's Vineyard, Preston shared that there's a special someone in his life who gets the softer, sometimes less shady side of the Bravolebrity — his fiance, Donald Cooley.

In an exclusive interview with Distractify, Preston opened up about his relationship and bringing a romantic partner on SH:MV Season 2.

Preston opened up about his boo, Donald, on Season 1 of Summer House: Martha's Vineyard. The couple met on the gay dating app Jack'd in late 2019 and made things official in 2020. But unlike some of his castmates, he opted not to have Donald with him in the house.

Fortunately, there’s no need to think Preston was “hiding the world” from his boyfriend of over two years. He shared with Distractify that Donald’s reason for not joining him at Martha’s Vineyard was work-related and said they would’ve been together otherwise.

“He works in big law,” Preston explained in 2023. “So the time that he has is fairly limited in that way. But you know, again, fingers and toes crossed for Season 2. I would definitely love for him to come and visit.”

During the first Summer House: MV season, Donald was working at a D.C.-based multinational law firm called Latham & Watkins. When Preston was asked to return to Oak Bluffs for another summer, he told us his and Donald's hectic schedules finally aligned. While he couldn't say when Donald would stop by the house in Season 2, he confirmed his presence on the show would be worth the wait.

"Obviously there is much that we still don't know on our end but I will say that everyone will love him," Preston said of Donald's Summer House: MV debut. "Because Donald is just fun. He's gonna make the joke, he's got to have the conversation, and he's just always just a fun person. So I'm excited, honestly, for y'all to really meet him because if y'all love me — and y'all do, y'all better continue — Y'all will love y'all some Donald. I promise that."

Preston and Donald's time filming Summer House: Martha's Vineyard together isn't the only important milestone the couple made in their relationship. In April 2024, Preston shared with People that he proposed to Donald during a romantic getaway to Madrid. The couple released a statement to confirm the engagement and shared photos of Preston proposing and putting a stunning diamond ring on his fiancé's finger.

Preston also confirmed the happy news on his Instagram account. Underneath his and Donald's announcement, Preston received tons of support from his Summer House: MV castmates, including Jasmine Ellis Cooper and Summer Marie Thomas.

Although Preston has never shied away from his identity or from being the sole gay person in the Summer House: MV cast (we all remember his epic Pride party from Season 1), he admitted to having some struggles during the first season.

“I started to feel some moments of isolation, even throughout our friendships,” Preston admitted at the time. “We are all friends and having a good time (for the most part), but something was missing in day-to-day interactions. There was that extra layer of shade that my queer friends usually provide. There was an extra layer of lightheartedness that they usually provide.”

Fortunately, Preston remained himself on the show and soon earned the spotlight as its breakout star. As Season 2 continues, he's glad he can share this "really exciting" time in his life with his soon-to-be husband by his side!

New episodes of Summer House: Martha's Vineyard air on Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo.