A Dutch couple has had their marriage annulled after a court found their officiant’s ChatGPT-generated wedding speech did not meet legal requirements. The ruling, released last week, voided the couple’s April 2025 marriage after the speech failed to meet Dutch civil code provisions requiring couples to declare they “accept each other as husband and wife and that they will faithfully fulfil all duties which the law connects to their marital status”, the Independent reported. The unnamed pair had entrusted official duties for their big day to a close friend, requesting an informal tone to match the relaxed atmosphere they wanted. “Do you promise to laugh together, grow together, and love each other, whatever life brings? What is your answer to that?” the translated vows read. “Do you choose to keep supporting each other, teasing each other, and embracing each other, even when life gets difficult? What is your answer to that?” The couple then said “I do” before their friend pronounced them “not only husband and wife, but above all a team, a crazy couple, each other’s love and home!” However, an Overijssel District Court judge ruled the couple had not sworn to fulfil their legal marriage duties and ordered the marriage to be struck from the Zwolle city registry. The court heard that the couple experienced significant distress at the prospect of losing their original marriage date. People reported the couple petitioned the court to keep the date, arguing it held emotional significance as it marked their 10th anniversary together. “The court understands that the date in the marriage deed is important to the man and woman, but cannot ignore what the law says,” the judge said. The couple also disputed claims that ChatGPT was used to write the vows, saying that their friend had only asked the AI tool to verify the wording met legal standards. The issue was raised after a civil registry worker listened to an audio tape of the vows and noticed the required declarations missing, RTL Nieuws reported. The outlet also said a registrar offered to accompany the one-time officiant to the wedding to ensure the proceedings complied with the law - an offer that was declined.