by Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s Long Journey to ‘I Do’
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have had one of the most high-profile on-again, off-again relationships in Hollywood. After first meeting on the set of the critically panned film Gigli in 2002, the two quickly fell for each other and got engaged later that year. However, excessive media attention surrounding their relationship took its toll and they postponed their 2003 wedding before ultimately calling it off.
Nearly two decades later, the two reconnected in early 2021 and reignited their romance. By April 2022, they were engaged once more. On July 16th, 2022, they shocked the world by eloping in Las Vegas. A month later, they celebrated with a lavish wedding at Affleck’s estate in Georgia.
After over 20 years, multiple breakups and makeups, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have finally made it down the aisle. But their journey to “I do” was anything but straightforward. Let’s take a deeper look back at the long and winding road these Hollywood stars traveled to find their happy ending.
Early Romance and Engagement (2002-2003)
It all began on the set of Gigli in late 2001. Lopez and Affleck, who played lovers in the film, found an instant connection. “I met Ben and we were friends right away,” Lopez recalled in an interview. “But about two months in of shooting of the film, we began to fall for each other.”
By November 2002, rumors were swirling that the costars had taken their relationship off-screen. Photos emerged of the new couple canoodling on the beach in Miami. That same month, Affleck popped the question with a 6.1-carat pink diamond ring estimated to be worth around $2.5 million.
Lopez, then 32, and Affleck, 30, quickly became one of the most talked about celebrity couples, dubbed “Bennifer” by the media. However, the intense tabloid attention took a toll on the relationship. Their over-the-top PDA, lavish displays of affection and constant paparazzi stalking became overwhelming.
In September 2003, just a day before they were set to marry, the couple announced they were postponing the wedding “due to the excessive media attention.” By January 2004, their spokesperson announced they had officially split, citing the “excessive media attention” as part of the reason for the breakup.
The Post-Breakup Years (2004-2021)
In the years following their highly publicized split, both Lopez and Affleck went on to have other high-profile relationships.
Lopez married singer Marc Anthony in June 2004. They had twins Max and Emme in 2008 but ultimately divorced in 2014. She also had a two-year relationship with her Dancing With the Stars partner Casper Smart from 2011 to 2016.
Affleck married actress Jennifer Garner in 2005. They had three children together – Violet, Seraphina and Samuel – but ultimately filed for divorce in 2015, which was finalized in 2018.
While living very separate lives, Lopez and Affleck remained cordial. Lopez has said they ran into each other over the years and maintained a friendship, though she noted it was difficult to see Affleck with someone else.
Rekindled Romance (2021-Present)
In early 2021, rumors began swirling that Lopez and Affleck were back in touch after her split from fiancé Alex Rodriguez. In April, photos emerged of the two enjoying a week-long vacation together in Montana. By June, multiple sources confirmed they were officially a couple again.
This time around, Lopez and Affleck kept their rekindled relationship largely out of the spotlight. They were photographed kissing on a yacht in St. Tropez to celebrate JLo’s 52nd birthday in July 2021 but otherwise laid low.
By November 2021, things were getting serious. Affleck was spotted house hunting with Lopez in Los Angeles, fueling rumors they planned to move in together. A source told People magazine at the time, “They are both very happy. It’s really wonderful for them both to have someone who shares the same values to grow old with.”
Second Engagement and Vegas Wedding (2022)
On April 8, 2022, Jennifer Lopez announced her engagement to Ben Affleck for the second time via her fan newsletter, On The JLo. She shared a teary-eyed video showing off her massive green diamond ring with the message, “I was taken totally off guard and just looked in his eyes smiling and crying at the same time trying hard to get my head around the fact that after 20 years this was happening all over again.”
Less than three months later, the couple shocked the world by eloping in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022. Lopez shared the happy news and photos from their low-key ceremony in her newsletter, writing “Last night we flew to Vegas, stood in line for a license with four other couples, all making the same journey to the wedding capital of the world.”
Lavish Georgia Wedding (2022)
While legally married, Lopez and Affleck still wanted to celebrate with family and friends. On August 20, 2022, they threw a lavish multi-day affair at Affleck’s 87-acre estate outside Savannah, Georgia.
Guests included longtime friends Matt Damon, Jimmy Kimmel and director Kevin Smith. Lopez wore a custom Ralph Lauren gown with a long train and veil for the ceremony. Photos showed the happy couple embracing and dancing the night away surrounded by loved ones.
In her newsletter, Lopez gushed about the “most perfect” wedding weekend. “It was everything we both dreamed of…and so much more.” She also praised Affleck saying, “You are my dream come true.”
A Love That Stood the Test of Time
Now, nearly two years after rekindling their romance and over 20 years since they first met, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck seem to have finally gotten their happy ending. While their journey wasn’t straightforward, the love they had for each other all those years ago never truly faded.
Through other relationships, marriages and kids, Lopez and Affleck maintained a bond even during their time apart. Now in their 50s, they’ve both grown personally and professionally, with Lopez saying they are now at a place in their lives “to sustain something.”
While only time will tell if they can avoid the pitfalls of their past, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s story proves that true love really can transcend the tests of time, media scrutiny and life’s ups and downs. Some relationships are simply meant to be, even if it takes almost 20 years to get back to one another. Theirs is undoubtedly one for the ages.
