If you check the weather app fourteen hundred twelve times a day, then you know one thing for sure

Sunny. Five percent chance of rain. Twenty degrees. Yes, yes, yessssss. This is what I want. Exactly this. A little cloud? A raindrop? Go away.

Quickly. On to the next app.

If you check your six different weather apps four million times a day, then you know you're nervous. Whether it's for your wedding, your big garden party, your favorite sailing event of the year, or your twenty-ninth birthday: the weather always plays a role on your big day. In my case, it's about getting married. Just 24 tiny days left and then I'll be standing there in that white dress, on that immense estate, with 18 flower gardens and a romantic pond. That sunshine and those 20 degrees belong there.

The dangerous thing about counting down to something fun is that you also get more nervous by the day. And when there are only 24 days left, you can start seriously keeping an eye on the weather. Then there are serious forecasts. And so I do that too, keeping track of those forecasts. Something like 1412 times a day.

Preferably, I scroll through my weather apps after typing each sentence. Of course, I keep an eye on multiple apps because one is not reliable. No way. And certainly not that standard app from the iPhone. Can we get married outside, do we have to go inside, do I need to buy clear umbrellas or just weddingproof sunscreen? Do I need air conditioning or should we order heaters for the evening? I want to know. Now. I need to know. Because I'm extremely nervous.

And it really has to do with more than just the weather, I'm smart enough for that. Because actually, the weather is also a lovely cover. You can talk about it extensively, but mainly other tensions are swirling through my head. Does my fiancé think my dress is totally hallefuckingluja wow fantastic? Do all my guests think my dress is pretty? Will my sisters cry when I walk in? Will my father give an elaborate speech? Is his speech ready? Is my speech ready? Will I not burst into tears at the altar when I have to face my boyfriend? My god, it's going to be incredibly exciting.

So fun, so so so fun, but secretly also quite a bit scary, all this marrying. Maybe even scarier than a rain cloud.

FACTS

• On average, about 71% of the time in the Netherlands, precipitation falls in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Seven percent. Every day.
• In the north and the middle of Limburg, the weather is the best.
• On average, there are 45 days of nice weather in our country: then there is certainly 50% of the day sun and it is not colder than normal.