Jill Peeters Marries Colonel Tom Schepers in Sunny Ceremony

VTM weather presenter and climate expert Jill Peeters (51) married Colonel Tom Schepers (51) on Saturday in a civil ceremony at the Mechelen city hall, under the bright sun she had “predicted and wished for.” Mayor Bart Somers officiated the wedding, which brought together a blended family of five daughters from their previous marriages.

A Perfectly Forecasted Day

The weather on July 4 delivered exactly what the bride had hoped for. “I had predicted it and wished for it. I wanted sun and 25 degrees, and voilà,” Peeters told VTM NIEUWS. Mayor Bart Somers could not resist a nod to her profession, joking that the weather woman had ensured good weather for her big day — a sentiment shared by the two other couples marrying at the city hall that day.

Peeters wore a white dress inspired by Queen Mathilde’s wedding gown, complete with a stand-up collar. “I knew Tom really liked the dress that then-Princess Mathilde wore, with the stand-up collar. So I went looking hard for such a dress,” she explained. “It’s apparently very much to his taste, though it’s a bit sexier than Princess Mathilde’s. But he calls me princess anyway.” Schepers wore his official military uniform for the occasion.

A Love Story Born in Africa

The couple’s romance has an unusual origin. They met through a mutual friend approximately four years ago, but the romantic spark ignited during a joint climate mission in Benin, West Africa. An airport incident proved to be a turning point: Schepers and six other men were detained by police, prompting Peeters to contact the embassy. After his release, Peeters recalled, “I grabbed Tom and thought: I’m never letting this man go.”

Schepers proposed in Mechelen’s Vrijbroekpark, taking Peeters on a poetic walk where he read poems at various spots about phases of their relationship before getting down on one knee at the final stop.

A Blended Family Celebration

For both Peeters and Schepers, this is their second marriage. Peeters has three daughters from her previous marriage, and Schepers has two. Together they form a blended family of five daughters, and the wedding date was specifically chosen to accommodate all of their schedules. When their daughters questioned why they wanted to marry again after previous divorces, Peeters responded simply: “I am romantic.” Schepers added that the marriage signals to the world that their commitment is “not for a short while.”

Notable guests included author Pascale Naessens, journalist Paul Jambers, news anchor Birgit Van Mol, US correspondent Björn Soenens, and fellow weather presenter Sabine Hagedoren. Upon leaving the city hall, the couple was surprised with a military honor guard formed by students from the military school.

From Private Life to Public Joy

Peeters had long kept her private life out of the spotlight. In an exclusive interview with NINA three months ago, she introduced Schepers to the public and announced their wedding plans. “Many people don’t even know that I was ever divorced,” she said at the time. “That I’m suddenly getting married will be a bombshell.”

The couple chose to marry in Mechelen, where they live together. Peeters has a particular affection for the city, calling it a “women’s city” because it is the only city in Belgium with a statue of a woman on the Grote Markt (main square).

What’s Next

After the wedding celebration with family and friends, the newlyweds plan to travel to the Swiss mountains for hiking and relaxation. When asked what they wish for, the couple told NINA: “Good health” and “love” — “And if you have those two, there’s not much more needed.”