A couple in the Netherlands had their marriage erased from the official record after a wedding ceremony went slightly off script in a very modern way. The person leading the service used a speech generated by ChatGPT, aiming for something playful and lighthearted. But a court later decided the wording failed to meet the legal requirements for a valid marriage.
The case involved a pair from the city of Zwolle, whose names were removed from the public decision under Dutch privacy rules. They were married on April 19, and they maintained they fully intended to be married regardless of the exact phrasing used during the ceremony. In other words, they believed their commitment was real, even if the words were unconventional.
According to the ruling, the officiant asked the couple whether they would keep supporting each other, teasing each other, and hugging even when life gets difficult. After they both said yes, the officiant declared them not only husband and wife, but also a team, a crazy couple, and each other’s love and home. It sounds sweet, even cinematic, and it likely felt personal in the moment.
The problem is that sentiment is not the same as the legal language required in the Netherlands. The judge concluded that the couple never explicitly pledged to take on their marital duties in the way Dutch law expects. The court acknowledged that the date on the marriage document mattered to the couple, but said it could not ignore what the law demands for a ceremony to count.
As a result, the judge ordered the marriage to be removed from Zwolle’s municipal register. The decision itself was dated January 5 and was reported this week, turning a private mishap into a public example of how traditional rules can clash with new technology. It also raises an uncomfortable question for anyone who has watched AI slip into everyday tasks, sometimes without anyone noticing until it matters.
What do you think, should the law make room for modern wording if the intent is clear, or should ceremonies stick to strict formulas? Share your thoughts in the comments.
