They say you are lucky if you find your soulmate in a lifetime. Well, it seems Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were always meant to be together. The couple is now officially married and their love story will remind you of fairytales. The two got together for the first time in 2002, and after a whirlwind romance, they went their separate ways. The two got into other relationships and had families of their own, only to rekindle their romance in 2021 and take the wedding plunge.
JLo and Affleck’s relationship tale is definitely one of Hollywood’s best love stories, which makes fans believe in second chances. It might’ve taken them almost two decades to cement their relationship, but they are stronger than ever now. Here’s everything about the couple’s romance.
Read More: Jennifer Lopez Says “We Did It” As She Shares Pictures From Her Wedding To Ben Affleck
When Jennifer Lopez Met Ben Affleck
Lopez met Affleck for the first time in 2002 on the set of their movie ‘Gigli’. At the time, she was married to her second husband, Cris Judd. The two divorced in 2003, and that is when Lopez and Affleck accepted their relationship in public. In fact, the actress thought that the ‘Gone Girl’ actor was “the one” for her. She told People, “I really felt like when I met Ben, ‘Okay, this is it.”
The couple became one of the most famous couples in Hollywood and fans started calling them “Bennifer.”
The ‘Beautiful’ Engagement
Lopez revealed her engagement to Affleck during an interview in November 2002. She described it as “traditional, but also in a very spectacular way, as of course Ben would do it … it was very, very beautiful.”
The rock on JLo’s finger was a custom-made Harry Winston pink-diamond solitaire ring that Affleck himself chose to propose with. The actress called her then-fiancé “brilliantly smart… Loving, charming, affectionate,” adding, “And I just admire him in every way.” She also revealed how they bonded over their past.
“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,” she said.
Things started crumbling as the couple started getting affected by the paparazzi which JLo called “just crazy.” She explained, “Now at least I can show you who I am a little bit. Back then you just believed anything you read on the cover of a tabloid. Many times it wasn’t true, or it was like a third of the truth.”
When JLo And Affleck Postponed Their Wedding
The couple was set to get married in September 2003, and Lopez had announced that she’d change her name to Jennifer Affleck after the wedding. Unfortunately, they called it off citing just days before the date because of “excessive media attention.”
“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 realized that something was awry. We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families and our friends,” Affleck and Lopez said in the statement.
The Big Breakup
The couple found their relationship in jeopardy after canceling their wedding and called off their engagement in January 2004 officially. Lopez’s representative stated at the time, “Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck. At this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy. I am not going to confirm anything about his personal life. We don’t want to get dragged into quicksand. Everybody wants a war. It’s not happening from our side.”
Their film, ‘Jersey Girl‘ was released in March 2004. While they didn’t star in any other films following their split, the ex-couple remained cordial with each other and even supported one another’s careers.
The Rekindling Of Romance
Lopez found her way back to Affleck after her breakup with Alex Rodriguez in April 2021. They started spending a lot of time together. Finally, in July 2021, the actress posted a series of photos from her 52nd birthday wherein the final snap captured her kissing Affleck. So, things became Instagram official.
Since then, they started frequenting red carpets and parties as a couple, always dressed in stylish outfits and complementing each other. They did not shy away from engaging in passionate kisses in front of the camera either.
About getting back together with Affleck, JLo told People, “I feel so lucky and happy and proud to be with him. It’s a beautiful love story that we got a second chance.”
Second Chance, Second Engagement
Lopez and Affleck got engaged in April 2022. The actress shared a clip of herself admiring her huge, green diamond on a silver band gifted to her by her love. The ‘If You Had My Love’ singer teased “major announcement” in a video and later news of her engagement was announced.
The Final “I Do”
Lopez confirmed that she and Affleck got married in Las Vegas on July 16. She called it the “best night ever“, adding, “It’s a beautiful outcome that this has happened in this way at this time in our lives where we can really appreciate and celebrate each other and respect each other. We always did, but we have even more of an appreciation because we know that life can take you in different directions.”
She added, “We have been in the game in the public eye long enough to know who we are as people and what really matters and what doesn’t matter. We have kids and we respect each other. … We really live our lives in a way we can be proud of and our kids can be proud of you. We’re just operating from a place of love and respect for everyone in our lives and that is very important to us. We know what the truth is we hold it sacred.”
