Dutch Court Rules AI-Written Wedding Vows Invalid, Leaving Couple Heartbroken

A Dutch couple’s dream wedding turned into a legal nightmare after a court in Zwolle ruled that their marriage, based on AI-generated wedding vows, was not legally valid.

The couple had celebrated their union in April 2025 with a casual civil ceremony, officiated by a friend who had turned to ChatGPT for help drafting the vows. Confident they had sealed their love, the couple was unaware that artificial intelligence–assisted vows could fall short of Dutch legal requirements.

According to Dutch law, couples must formally declare their commitment to fulfill all legal obligations linked to marriage. The court ruled that the AI-generated vows failed to meet this requirement.

During the ceremony, the man was asked:

“Do you promise to stand by [woman’s name] today, tomorrow, and forever? To laugh together, grow together, and love each other no matter what?”

The vows continued:

“Will you keep supporting each other, teasing each other, holding on to each other—even in difficult times? You are not only husband and wife, but above all a team, a crazy couple, each other’s love and each other’s home!”

While heartfelt, the court concluded that these words did not satisfy the legal declaration mandated under Article 1:67 of the Dutch Civil Code. As a result, the marriage certificate was “erroneously recorded in the civil registry.”

The couple pleaded that they had not intended to break the law and asked to retain their original wedding date for emotional reasons. However, the court rejected the request, stating:

“The court understands how important the marriage date is to the couple, but it cannot ignore the law.”

This ruling highlights the risks of relying solely on AI for legal or formal documents, even for personal milestones like weddings. While AI tools such as ChatGPT can help craft beautiful messages, they cannot replace legal expertise.

For couples seeking creative wedding inspiration, AI-assisted writing, or personalized vow ideas, platforms like Chatzyr.net offer guidance while ensuring legal requirements are met. Chatzyr.net helps users blend technology, creativity, and law-friendly advice for life’s most important moments.