Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have had a long and tumultuous relationship. The couple, known as Bennifer, first got together in 2002 after meeting on the set of the film Gigli. They got engaged in 2002 but postponed their wedding and ultimately broke up in 2004. During this time, Lopez wore a now-iconic green Versace dress to the 2000 Grammy Awards which became the most popular search query in Google's history, leading to the creation of Google Images.
Lopez went on to marry Marc Anthony, with whom she shares twins, and later Alex Rodriguez, while Affleck married Jennifer Garner. However, in 2021, Lopez and Affleck rekindled their romance and got engaged for the second time in April 2022. They married in a surprise Las Vegas ceremony in July 2022 and had a second wedding celebration in Georgia soon after.
Lopez has described Affleck as the love of her life and said that their reunion inspired her to get back into the studio and make music again. In February 2024, Lopez released a documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told, which chronicles their relationship and break-up.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Number of weddings | 5 |
Number of engagements | 6 |
First husband | Ojani Noa |
Second husband | Cris Judd |
Third husband | Marc Anthony |
Fourth husband | Ben Affleck |
Fiancé | Alex Rodriguez |
Current husband | Ben Affleck |
What You'll Learn
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's wedding date
Fast forward to April 2022, and the couple announced their second engagement. This time, they wasted no time in tying the knot, marrying in a surprise Las Vegas ceremony in July 2022. The pair kept the festivities going with a romantic Paris getaway and a big shindig at Ben's property in Georgia.
Lopez and Affleck's wedding was a private affair, with the couple standing in line for a marriage license with four other couples. Lopez wore a dress from an old movie, and they kept things simple. In her newsletter, On The J.Lo, Lopez wrote, "We read our own vows in the little chapel and gave one another the rings we'll wear for the rest of our lives...it was the best possible wedding we could have imagined...at very, very long last."
The couple has since spoken openly about their relationship, with Lopez crediting Affleck for inspiring her to get back into the studio and record new music. In her documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told, she also revealed that Affleck helped boost her confidence and pushed her to finish the script for her film, This Is Me...Now.
Despite rumours of a separation in May 2024, the couple appeared together to support their children at a school play, and Lopez told Variety in an interview that same month that the couple had talked about working together again.
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Lopez and Affleck's relationship history
In November 2002, Affleck proposed with a 6.1-6 carat pink diamond ring from Harry Winston, which reportedly cost him $2.5 million. The couple's wedding was set for September 2003, but they canceled just days before the ceremony due to "excessive media attention". They officially called off their engagement and split in January 2004.
Lopez later reflected on the breakup, saying, "I lost my sense of self, questioned if I belonged in this business, thought maybe I did suck at everything...It was my first real heartbreak."
In the years that followed, both moved on to other relationships. Affleck married Jennifer Garner in 2005, and the couple had three children together. Lopez married Marc Anthony in 2004, and they welcomed twins, Max and Emme, in 2008. They separated in 2011 and divorced in 2014.
In April 2021, Lopez and Affleck reunited and were spotted on multiple outings together. In May 2021, they jetted off to Montana for a week-long vacation and were soon "fully in it", according to a source. By June 2021, the couple was reportedly already thinking about their future and taking their relationship seriously. They even began to blend their families, with Affleck joining Lopez and her children at a family birthday party and the couple taking their kids to Universal Studios.
In April 2022, Lopez and Affleck got engaged for the second time. Lopez announced the news in her personal fan newsletter, showing off her new engagement ring—an emerald-cut, pale green diamond.
Three months later, in July 2022, the couple tied the knot in a surprise Las Vegas wedding. Lopez confirmed the news in her newsletter, saying that a low-key ceremony was exactly what they wanted. They also changed their last names to match each other's.
The couple jetted off to Paris for their honeymoon and brought along their kids. They also had a second wedding ceremony in August 2022 at Affleck's Georgia estate.
In February 2024, Lopez and Affleck attended the Grammys, making headlines as they danced and cuddled throughout the night. However, by May 2024, rumors began swirling that the couple was headed towards divorce. They were spotted spending time apart, and Affleck was seen without his wedding ring.
In July 2024, Lopez and Affleck spent the Fourth of July on opposite sides of the country, and Affleck notably did not attend Lopez's 55th birthday party. While the couple has not publicly addressed the status of their relationship, sources claim they are living separately and working through issues in their marriage.
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The couple's first engagement
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck first met in 2002 on the set of their movie Gigli, which came out the following year. At the time, Lopez was married to her second husband, Cris Judd. The couple eventually divorced in 2003, and Lopez and Affleck went public with their romance shortly after.
Lopez told People in 2016, "I really felt like when I met Ben, 'Okay, this is it.' The duo quickly became one of the biggest couples in Hollywood and one of the first to receive a hybrid couple name: "Bennifer."
In a November 2002 interview with Diane Sawyer, Lopez revealed her engagement to Affleck, describing it as "traditional, but also in a very spectacular way, as of course, Ben would do it … it was very, very beautiful."
Lopez described her then-fiancé as "brilliantly smart… Loving. Charming. Affectionate," adding that her mother approved.
"And I just admire him in every way," she said. "We've talked about this so many times, and we talked about how people kind of see him with … one type of person and me with another type of person, and the two of us together is like, 'How did that happen?' And how we're probably more alike and from the same kind of background … same kind of upbringing and same kind of family and same kind of house."
Lopez and Affleck's wedding was set for September 2003, but they canceled just days before the ceremony due to "excessive media attention" before officially splitting in January 2004.
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Their second engagement
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's second engagement was announced in April 2022, almost two decades after their first engagement. The couple first met on the set of the 2003 rom-com 'Gigli', and their relationship was made public soon after Lopez's divorce from her second husband, Cris Judd, was finalised in 2003.
Lopez and Affleck's relationship has been described as "a lot of pressure" by Lopez, who also said that the media attention "definitely played a part in the dynamic of their relationship". Despite this, the couple got engaged in November 2002, with Affleck proposing with a 6.1-carat pink diamond from Harry Winston, which reportedly cost him $2.5 million.
However, in September 2003, the couple postponed their wedding, releasing a joint statement that read:
> "Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date. When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate 'decoy brides' at three different locations, we realised that something was awry... We felt what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be spoiled... We felt the spirit of what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families and our friends."
The couple eventually called off their engagement in January 2004, with Lopez confirming the news through her spokesperson, who said:
> "I am confirming the report that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck. At this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy."
Lopez and Affleck went on to marry other people, but after both their relationships ended, the former couple reunited in April 2021, with Affleck visiting Lopez's Los Angeles home multiple times. In May 2021, the couple went on a week-long vacation to Montana, and by June, sources claimed that the couple were "very happy" and "committed to making things work".
In April 2022, Lopez and Affleck announced their second engagement through Lopez's personal fan newsletter, with the singer revealing that Affleck had proposed to her while she was taking a bubble bath.
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The couple's wedding ceremony
The wedding ceremony of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck was an intimate affair that took place in a small chapel in Las Vegas at midnight on July 17, 2022. The couple, affectionately known as "Bennifer," chose a low-key ceremony that reflected their desire for a simple and private celebration.
Lopez, known for her sense of style and fashion influence, wore a dress from an old movie, adding a unique and sentimental touch to her bridal ensemble. They stood in line for a marriage license with four other couples, a fitting reminder that even the most famous celebrities can find joy in the everyday.
The couple exchanged their own vows, making the ceremony even more personal and meaningful. In her newsletter, "On the J.Lo," Lopez shared the intimate details of their special day:
> "We read our own vows in the little chapel and gave one another the rings we'll wear for the rest of our lives...in the end, it was the best possible wedding we could have imagined...at very, very long last."
Lopez also expressed her gratitude for finding love and shared her hope for the future:
> "We're grateful to have that in abundance, a new wonderful family of five amazing children and a life that we've never had more reason to look forward to. Stick around long enough, and maybe you'll find the best moment of your life in a drive-through in Las Vegas at twelve thirty in the morning in the tunnel of love drive-through, with your kids and the one you'll spend forever with."
The newlyweds continued the celebrations with a romantic getaway to Paris, France, and a larger wedding party at the groom's estate in Riceboro, Georgia, a few weeks later. The guest list included close friends and family, with celebrity guests such as Matt Damon and Kevin Smith in attendance.
The couple's journey to the altar was a highly anticipated event, given their previous engagement two decades prior. Their initial engagement ended in 2004, and they reunited in 2021, rekindling their romance and leading to their eventual wedding.
Lopez and Affleck's wedding was a testament to their enduring love and commitment. By choosing an intimate ceremony and sharing their joy with their loved ones, they created a memorable celebration that reflected their unique relationship.
And so, after two decades, "Bennifer" finally said "I do," surrounded by those who mattered most and with the world wishing them well.
A Timeline of Their Relationship:
- 2002: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez meet on the set of the movie "Gigli."
- November 2002: The couple gets engaged for the first time.
- September 2003: They postpone their wedding due to excessive media attention.
- January 2004: Bennifer calls off their engagement and separates.
- April 2021: After almost two decades, Bennifer reunites and sparks romance rumours.
- May 2021: The couple takes a weeklong vacation to Montana and spends more time together.
- April 2022: They get engaged for the second time.
- July 17, 2022: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck tie the knot in a surprise Las Vegas wedding.
- August 2022: The couple hosts a second, larger wedding celebration at the groom's estate in Georgia.
- October 2022: The newlyweds are still in their honeymoon phase, enjoying married life and blending their families.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck got married in a surprise Las Vegas wedding in July 2022.
Yes, they had a second wedding ceremony on Affleck's Georgia estate in August 2022.
Yes, they went on two honeymoons. The first was in Paris, and the second was in Italy.
No, they had a low-key ceremony in a chapel, which is what they wanted.
Yes, Affleck proposed with a 6.1-carat pink diamond from Harry Winston, which reportedly cost him $2.5 million.