Controversial wedding speech sparks outrage—would you let a robot write your vows?

There was a time when wedding speeches came straight from the heart—scribbled on napkins, practised in mirrors, and bursting with genuine emotion.

Now, even love’s most intimate moments risk being reduced to copy-and-paste content.

The latest controversy surrounding fashion influencer Danielle Bernstein has reignited the debate about authenticity in an age where AI and social media blur the lines between real life and performance.

Bernstein, founder of WeWoreWhat and followed by millions online, has once again found herself ‘at the centre of social media drama’. This time, the influencer is under scrutiny for allegedly copying another creator’s wedding speech almost word-for-word. The claims surfaced after a smaller content creator, Mayalabella Clark, noticed uncanny similarities between her engagement speech and Bernstein’s.

A creator named Bai brought the matter to light after sharing a comparison video that has now been viewed nearly a million times. Viewers were stunned by how closely the speeches matched, with many calling the resemblance ‘nearly identical’.

When words lose their meaning

Clark’s emotional words—‘All of the decisions that go into a wedding... And really the most easy decision, outside of marrying this man next to me, was who we wanted here on this very special day’—were echoed almost exactly by Bernstein: ‘There are so many decisions that went into what we see tonight... The easiest decision of all, besides the man I'm standing next to and saying yes to was who we wanted to have here to celebrate us.’

The likeness continued right through to the closing lines. Clark ended her speech with ‘I love you all, we love you all, and you are so a part of our story,’ while Bernstein’s mirrored version read, ‘I love each and every one of you so much, and I'm so grateful that you're such a big part of our story.’

While Bai herself said the copying ‘is not illegal’ but simply ‘funny’, many online found it deeply unsettling that someone might lift another person’s wedding speech so precisely.

A troubling pattern emerges

This isn’t Bernstein’s first brush with accusations of copying. Over the years, she has faced at least 12 claims of allegedly replicating other designers’ work. One small business owner described herself as ‘the latest victim of @weworewhat and Danielle Bernstein's crusade against small designers’.

Adding to the unease, Bernstein recently launched a ‘shoppable outfit guide’ for her engagement party, where guests could purchase pre-curated looks approved by her. While she claimed it was designed to help attendees who were already planning to buy something new, many critics saw it as another example of turning a personal moment into a business opportunity.

As one observer put it, ‘We are in a cost-of-living crisis/quiet recession, so there's something not very demure nor very mindful about specifying yet another expense that wedding guests should pay on top of gifts, travel, and time to be there for you.’

The rise of AI-assisted intimacy

The viral nature of this controversy has also sparked another theory: what if both speeches were AI-generated? Some speculated that ‘they both asked ChatGPT to write a speech for them,’ suggesting this might soon become a common occurrence.

Recent research supports that possibility. A survey by wedding planning website Zola found that 90 per cent of couples were open to using AI for wedding budgets and venue ideas, while 74 per cent said they would use AI to write speeches or toasts. Another report revealed that 38 per cent of couples have already done so.

Still, not everyone is embracing the trend. In one online discussion, a user wrote: ‘Just don't do it. Something that is supposed to come from the heart and show the human condition seems horribly wrong to get spit out of some ChatGPT hole.’

A generational divide on authenticity

For many older Australians, the idea of outsourcing such personal moments feels deeply uncomfortable. A wedding speech is meant to capture real emotions, shared memories, and genuine affection—things that can’t be replicated by algorithms.

Beyond that, the commercialisation of these milestones adds another layer of discomfort. Encouraging guests to buy curated outfits or transforming private celebrations into online performances blurs the boundary between authenticity and advertising. It turns loved ones into background characters in a perfectly styled feed.

Clark’s reaction, however, was refreshingly composed. She thanked her supporters, saying how ‘many people were in my corner,’ and expressed gratitude for the kindness she received amid the controversy. Her poise stood in stark contrast to the drama unfolding online.

What authenticity means in 2024

This story raises a bigger question: what happens to sincerity when technology writes our most meaningful words? It’s easy to see how AI can simplify wedding planning—but when even our vows and speeches start sounding alike, something important is lost.

Life’s most memorable celebrations aren’t supposed to be flawless productions. They’re beautiful precisely because of the human imperfections—the shaky voice, the nervous laugh, the tears that come from the heart.

While debates over AI-written wedding speeches highlight how technology is reshaping our most personal moments, the same tools are also being used in far more deceptive ways.

Scammers are now turning to artificial intelligence to create convincing personas and emotional traps that prey on trust and vulnerability.

If you found this story unsettling, this next one dives even deeper into how AI is changing the way people connect—and deceive—online.

Read more: Artificial Love: How criminals are using AI to scam

When every word becomes content and every celebration becomes a post, it’s worth asking—what are we really celebrating anymore?