Dutch Court Annules Couple’s Marriage Over ChatGPT Speech
AI-image by Grok.
It may have been artificial, but in this case, it clearly wasn’t intelligent.
As artificial intelligence continues to weave its way into everyday life, its growing influence is not always producing positive results. One unusual example recently emerged from the Netherlands, where a couple’s marriage was annulled after their wedding officiant relied on a ChatGPT-generated speech.
The speech was intended to be lighthearted and playful, but Dutch authorities later determined that it did not satisfy the country’s legal requirements for a valid marriage. The issue came to light in a court ruling published this week.
The couple, who live in the city of Zwolle and whose identities were withheld under privacy rules, argued that they fully intended to be married regardless of the wording used during the ceremony. During the wedding last April, the officiant asked whether they would continue supporting, teasing, and embracing one another even when life became difficult. After both said “I do,” the officiant proclaimed them partners, a team, and each other’s home base.
AI WEDDING VOWS VOIDED
A Dutch court broke the hearts of a couple after ruling that their marriage, whose wedding vows were drafted with the help of artificial intelligence, was not valid.
READ: https://t.co/MZSD8LX2Ij pic.twitter.com/EkNppF7JwF
— PhilSTAR L!fe (@philstarlife) January 10, 2026
However, the court ruled that the couple never formally vowed to fulfill the legal obligations of marriage, a requirement under Dutch law. While the judge acknowledged that the wedding date held personal importance for the couple, the court concluded it could not overlook the legal shortcomings. As a result, the marriage was ordered to be removed from the official city registry in Zwolle.
The couple has placed the blame on the municipality, arguing that officials failed to intervene at the time of the ceremony. Under Dutch civil law, a marriage only becomes valid when both parties explicitly accept each other as husband and wife and commit to fulfilling the legal duties that come with marriage.
According to the couple, one of their guests questioned the legality of the ceremony shortly afterward and raised concerns with the municipal registrar who was present to oversee the event. The registrar reportedly dismissed those concerns at the time, even declining a suggestion to redo the vows later during the reception. It wasn’t until three months later—after the couple had returned from their honeymoon—that the municipality informed them the ceremony had not been legally valid after all.
A Dutch court annulled a couple’s marriage after the officiant used a ChatGPT-generated speech that was meant to be lighthearted but didn’t meet the legal standards for a valid ceremony. pic.twitter.com/vIBDwGYgVQ
— The Project (@theprojecttv) January 10, 2026
The case has sparked discussion about the limits of AI use in formal and legal settings, and serves as a reminder that creativity and convenience cannot replace clear legal requirements—especially when it comes to matters as serious as marriage.
About Post Author
