by The Long and Winding Road to ‘Bennifer’: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s Decades-Long Love Story
When Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck first got together in 2002 after meeting on the set of the box office bomb Gigli, they instantly became one of Hollywood’s most talked about couples. Dubbed “Bennifer” by the ever-watchful tabloid media, the relationship between the two A-list stars captured the attention of the entire world. However, their whirlwind romance was not meant to last. Just a year after they began dating, they called off their highly publicized wedding only three days before the planned date, citing excessive media attention as the reason.
Most assumed that was the end for Bennifer, but fate had other plans. After each went on to have high-profile relationships and marriages with other partners, starting their own families along the way, the sparks between Lopez and Affleck were reignited nearly 20 years later. In 2021, the world was shocked but thrilled to learn that the iconic duo had reconnected and rekindled their romance. Finally, in 2022, they said “I do” by tying the knot in an intimate Las Vegas wedding.
It has been a long and winding road for Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck to get to where they are today – a happily married couple whose love has stood the test of time against all odds. Let’s take a deeper look back at their relationship journey from beginning to end.
The Beginning: Meeting on Set in 2002
The first sparks between Lopez and Affleck flew in early 2002 while filming the infamous flop Gigli. Though the movie itself turned out to be a critical and commercial disaster, it undeniably brought two superstars together who had an instant magnetic attraction and chemistry.
By July of that same year, Lopez and Affleck had begun dating publicly. Photos of them canoodling on yachts and strolling hand in hand down streets added fuel to the already growing “Bennifer” fire. Fans were enthralled by the good looks and star power of the new Hollywood ‘It’ couple.
The Engagement: A Whirlwind Romance
After only a few months of dating, Lopez and Affleck took things to the next level when Ben proposed to Jen with a 6.1-carat pink diamond ring in November 2002. The engagement instantly sparked a media frenzy unprecedented at the time.
The couple did numerous high-profile interviews gushing about one another and their love. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you,” Affleck told People magazine. Lopez cooed about how Affleck treated her “like a queen.” It seemed nothing could stop the impending celebrity super wedding.
The Called-Off Nuptials: Too Much Attention
However, just three days before Lopez and Affleck were set to tie the knot on September 14, 2003, they shockingly announced they were postponing the wedding “due to the excessive media attention.”
Speculation swirled that the non-stop paparazzi chaos surrounding their every move, as well as reported clashes over Affleck’s partying and alleged infidelity, took a toll on the relationship. Whatever the true reasons, it was clear they could no longer handle the intense public spotlight on their private love life.
After months of will-they-or-won’t-they speculation, Lopez and Affleck finally called off the engagement for good in January 2004, devastating fans around the world. The infamous “Bennifer” era had come to an end.
Moving On: Other Relationships and Families
In the years following the split, both Lopez and Affleck dove into other high-profile relationships. Jen married singer Marc Anthony in 2004 and they had twins Max and Emme in 2008. Ben married actress Jennifer Garner in 2005 and they went on to have three children together – Violet, Serena, and Samuel – before divorcing in 2018.
Throughout it all, Lopez and Affleck maintained they remained on good terms as friends. But the public never fully let go of the idea that “Bennifer” could reunite someday. Every time either star went through a breakup, rumors of a rekindled romance between the famous exes would start swirling again.
Reconnecting in 2021: Sparks Fly Once More
In early 2021, the entire world let out a collective gasp as photos emerged of Lopez and Affleck together again, enjoying each others’ company on multiple occasions in Los Angeles and Miami.
It had been 17 years since their last public sighting as a couple. But it was clear from smiling photos of the pair that the chemistry and affection between them remained as strong as ever.
By May 2021, multiple sources confirmed to People that Lopez and Affleck were officially “dating and very happy.” They began doubling on family outings with their kids as their rekindled love blossomed once more.
The Engagement, Round Two: A New Beginning
Just like the first time around, it didn’t take long for things to heat up between the reunited lovers. In April 2022, Lopez revealed she and Affleck were engaged again via her fan newsletter, On The JLo, by showing off her massive green diamond ring.
This time around, the engagement had a completely different feel – more lowkey and intimate compared to the frenzied media circus of 2002. At age 52, Lopez said she felt even more sure of her love for Affleck, 47, telling People, “It’s beautiful the way it feels very different than it was years ago.”
The Wedding: ‘Till Death Do Us Part’
After a year of rekindled bliss, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck finally made it official by tying the knot on July 16, 2022 in a top secret late-night wedding at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.
Photos from their special day showed the beaming couple posing out front in matching white outfits after exchanging vows. A rep for Lopez confirmed to People that the pair “flew to Vegas, stood in line for a license with four other couples, all making the same trip to the wedding capital of the world.”
For Lopez and Affleck, it was the culmination of a two-decade journey that finally saw them make it down the aisle – proving that when it’s real love, it can truly stand the test of time.
The Happily Ever After: Still Going Strong
Now, nearly two years after reconnecting and over a year into their second marriage, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck appear happier than ever in their love. The couple frequently shares gushing tributes about one another on social media and are often spotted engaging in PDA during romantic dates.
Most recently, Lopez opened up about her marriage in a May 2023 interview with Vogue, saying, “I’ve never been better” and that Affleck makes her feel like “the luckiest girl in the world.” The singer also revealed they are looking to buy a new family home together.
It’s clear that despite the ups and downs of their long history, Lopez and Affleck’s bond has endured because it is rooted in a deep love, care, respect and friendship that has only grown stronger with time. Their story proves that when two souls are meant to be, they will likely find their way back to one another – no matter how long the road may be.
In the end, through all the obstacles and years apart, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s journey has had the happiest of endings. Their love is a testament that when the connection is real and the timing is right, true soulmates do exist who are willing to walk through fire again and again for one another. As “Bennifer” enters this new chapter of marriage, fans can’t wait to continue following their fairy tale well into the future.
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