Look Back on Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's Marriage

It's over for Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. On August 20, 2024, TMZ reported that the couple officially filed for divorce after two years of marriage. News of the pair's split comes after months of swirling reports indicating that their high-profile relationship was on the rocks.

The Hollywood power duo, who were previously set to wed in the early 2000s, tied the knot two decades later in July 2022. In a simple Vegas elopement, the couple exchanged vows before an intimate group of loved ones, nodding to their lowkey and revitalized romance—a vast departure from the spotlight they're both accustomed to, especially given their respective and prolific careers. "We read our own vows in the little chapel and gave one another the rings we'll wear for the rest of our lives," Lopez shared with fans in her newsletter On the JLo. A few weeks after the Vegas vow swap, the two married again in front of family and friends in Georiga.

Lopez and Affleck's story has been rather long-winded. After an emotionally-charged split, the stars eventually moved on with other partners. Both, respectively, welcomed children of their own over the last 20 years. It was confirmed that both sets of kids witnessed the couple exchange vows. (Affleck shares three children with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, while Lopez shares twins with her former husband Marc Anthony.)

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Here, we look back on Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's marriage, breaking down the details of their rekindled love story and their two wedding celebrations.

In this article:

• Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's Wedding Details
• How Ben Affleck Proposed to Jennifer Lopez
• Jennifer Lopez's Engagement Rings Through the Years
• Bennifer's Relationship History From 2002 to 2024

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's Wedding Details

The Couple Eloped

On July 16, 2022, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Afflect got married in a simple elopement in the reputable A Little White Wedding Chapel in Vegas. In a 2020 conversation with The Knot, chapel owner Charolette Richards explained why Vegas was easily-accessible for all types of couples. "Getting married here is easy in every way. Our marriage licenses don't require a blood test or a waiting period. Our marriage license bureau is open 24 hours a day Friday and Saturday (until midnight Sunday night), 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday--some weekends there are just lines and lines of limos," she said.

"We barely made it to the little white wedding chapel by midnight," Lopez wrote in her newsletter. "They graciously stayed open late a few minutes, let us take pictures in a pink Cadillac convertible, evidently once used by the king himself (but if we wanted Elvis himself to show, that cost extra and he was in bed)."

Bennifer, like other couples, waited in that line. They exchanged vows shortly after 12:30 am. "Between arriving and getting married, a couple should allow at least four hours -- you never know how long the line to get a marriage license will be," Richards added. "For weekend weddings, you should make reservations for the chapel; planning at least a week in advance is usually fine. Mid-week, you can often just walk in. If you plan to wed when Comdex (the annual computer convention in Vegas--the largest convention of any kind in the world) is in town or on Valentine's Day or New Year's, you should reserve at least eight months in advance."

Jennifer Lopez Wore Two Wedding Dresses

During the wedding day, Lopez wore two separate looks, both designer items with sentimental ties. The first dress, a vintage, sleeveless piece, was revealed in a post shared by celeb stylist Chris Appleton, who handled the full hair and makeup glam for Lopez on her wedding day. Unearthed by eagle-eyed observers (Instagram users and EliteDaily, included) Lopez first hinted the number was featured in "an old movie." In the same clip taken by Appleton, the glowing bride reveals the origins of her wedding dress—one of two looks, par for the course for any modern bride. "I've had this dress for so many years," she says in the video. "And I've just been saving it and saving it and saving it. And now, I'm wearing it to my wedding."

It's since been noted that the number is the Alexander McQueen Floral Jacquard full-skirt gown, which retails for over $5,100 on Bergdorf's website.

Chris Appleton / Instagram

That was just one of two dresses for Lopez, who ended up changing into a second designer number. The piece by Zuhair Murad (from his 2023 bridal collection) featured intricate lace, a corseted bodice and a fishtail train. Her choice in a Zuhair Murad gown hardly came as a surprise to fans. Lopez has long been loyal to Murad, even wearing several of the couture creator's pieces in her 2022 flick, Marry Me, including during the "big" wedding scene.

Rob Zangardi / Instagram

"Zuhair Murad is a designer with whom Jenifer has a really strong relationship. We looked at everyone… and we started looking [the most] during bridal fashion week," the film's costume designer, Caroline Duncan, previously said. "We started sending images of what was happening live and they were putting things in front of her and she was gravitating towards the bigger dresses and skirt. There were probably 15 dresses in contention that everyone was happy to loan. They all love working with Jennifer and she looks beautiful in everything. Zuhair sent two dresses, both runway samples, they had not even been put into production and it was the clear winner for the first time when it went on her."

"Oh my God, there were so many great outfits in that movie," Lopez previously told The Knot and others. "Let me think for a second… Obviously, the wedding dress by Zuhair Murad was a knockout. It was very uncomfortable those four days… every time I had to wear it, it was so tight on me."

Lopez Wore a Platinum Wedding Band

Jennifer Lopez / Instagram

The multi-hyphenate basked in her newlywed glow the morning after the nuptials, sharing images of her new bauble, a platinum band. "Platinum is the most enduring of all the precious metals due to its purity, density and strength," Jennifer Gandia, co-owner of Greenwich St. Jewelers tells The Knot. "It's an ideal choice for couples who want to invoke these qualities in their union. Practically speaking, it's the hardest precious metal and a classic platinum band can easily withstand a lifetime of wear and then be passed down for generations. Its cool color pairs beautifully with warmer metals like rose and yellow gold, providing a contrast that makes the wedding bands special and distinct from fashion jewelry."

The move is a bit unconventional in 2022. "Seeing the couple's rings, it seems they chose a matching set of simple platinum wedding bands which is a choice that was the norm for many years," Gandia notes. "But in the past few decades, [it] had lost favor to couples wanting bands to reflect their individual style. This nod to tradition feels romantic and nostalgic signaling the survival of their love to the world with bands of pure, white platinum."

She Changed Her Name

Lopez also revealed another significant update after the wedding in her newsletter. "When love is real, the only thing that matters in marriage is one another and the promise we make to love, care, understand, be patient, loving and good to one another. We had that. And so much more. Best night of our lives," she wrote. She then signed it, "Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck." (Do you think it's symbolic or she used a service to change her name?)

All About Ben Affleck's Proposal to Jennifer Lopez

After months of paparazzi photos and speculation about the state of "Bennifer," Lopez announced in an April 2022 newsletter blast that she was, once again, engaged to Affleck—two decades after the Armageddon actor had originally popped the question. In the video announcement, she showed off a massive green diamond engagement ring (8.5 carats to be exact).

"Saturday night while at my favorite place on earth (in the bubble bath), my beautiful love got on one knee and proposed. 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, I was quite literally speechless and he said, 'is that a yes?' I said YES of course that's a YES." Lopez wrote at the time. "I was smiling so big and tears were coming down my face, feeling so incredibly happy and whole. It was nothing fancy at all, but it was the most romantic thing I could've ever imagined ... just a quiet Saturday night at home, two people promising to always be there for each other. Two very lucky people. Who got a second chance at true love."

The stone was distinctly unique. "Fancy colored diamonds make up less than 0.1% of all diamonds," Jillian Sassone, founder of Marrow Fine, previously said. "A fancy green diamond—especially of that size and deep saturation—is quite rare." Lopez's new bling is also aligned with one of the biggest engagement ring trends right now: colored gems. "We see a lot of couples choosing colored center stones," Sassone adds, noting that green sapphires are particularly popular among her clientele. "A colorful stone is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to have a truly unique one-of-a-kind piece that you won't see the likes of anywhere else."

Of course, this green beauty isn't the first dazzling engagement ring J.Lo has ever received. In fact, the singer has worn six iconic sparklers over the years, of varying cuts and colors.

A Look Back at Jennifer Lopez's Engagement Rings

Jennifer Lopez's second engagement ring from Ben Affleck was a certified show-stopper—but it's not her first. Take a look at every single engagement ring she's worn in the past.

J. Lo's Engagement Ring from Ojani Noa

Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

JLo's first marriage was to restauranteur Ojani Noa in 1997. He popped the question with a massive pear-shaped diamond, which was estimated to cost around $100,000. Ultimately, they parted ways a year after they were married.

JLo's Engagement Ring from Cris Judd

KMazur/WireImage

After meeting on the set of her music video "Love Don't Cost a Thing" in 2001, JLo got engaged to choreographer and backup dancer Cris Judd. He proposed with an emerald-cut diamond engagement ring, which many experts say was worth over six figures. The marriage ultimately lasted about a year.

JLo's Engagement Ring from Ben Affleck

Vera Anderson / WireImage

Bennifer was one of the most iconic pairings of the new millennium, and they fell in love in the public eye in 2002, just as the paparazzi rapidly expanded its reach across Hollywood. Affleck proposed with an incredibly rare pink solitaire diamond—but more on that below.

JLo's Engagement Ring from Marc Anthony

Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Following her split from Affleck, Lopez began dating singer Marc Anthony. They got engaged after Anthony presented her with an 8.5-carat blue Harry Winston diamond ring. They wed in June 2004, and later welcomed twins Max and Emme in 2008. The couple ultimately announced their separation in July 2011 and finalized their divorce in June 2014.

JLo's Engagement Ring from Alex Rodriguez

Jackson Lee/GC Images

In 2017, JLo began dating sports star Alex Rodriguez. After two years, ARod proposed with another emerald-cut engagement ring; this time, it was estimated to be between 10 and 15 carats and valued around $1 million to $5 million. After changing their wedding plans multiple times due to the pandemic, they called off their engagement early in 2021.

JLo's Engagement Ring from Ben Affleck...Again

Rich Fury/WireImage,

On The JLo

As fate would have it, Bennifer found their way back to each other later in 2021. For their second engagement, Affleck proposed with a fancy-colored green diamond. While we have yet to see a clear photo of the ring, there's no doubt the sparkler is rare and valuable, just like the first one.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez's Relationship Timeline

December 2002 (KMazur / WireImage)

Like many celeb couples, Lopez and Affleck fell in love in 2002 while filming Gigli, the great blockbuster blunder of the '00s. (The Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez movie was considered such a failure that it required a few years' time for both of their respective careers to rebound.)

Still, before the film's release, the Pearl Harbor heartthrob and Lopez were photographed everywhere, indirectly providing access to their relationship as they fell in—and out—of love. In fact, some pop culture experts claim Bennifer was responsible for driving the demand for paparazzi photos moving forward, especially after they were photographed during one saucy tryst on a yacht that will remain embedded in the minds of pop culture fanatics worldwide.

J.Lo's Engagement Ring From Ben Affleck Was Unforgettable

The couple's whirlwind romance culminated in a proposal from Affleck as Lopez's career skyrocketed. The Good Will Hunting actor proposed to Lopez with a 6.1-carat ring designed by Harry Winston, which Lopez said she "loved getting" in a 2020 interview. The custom piece featured a pink solitaire diamond, one of the rarest in the world, and helped catapult sales of pink diamonds moving forward. (For context: this particular shade of diamond only accounts for about 1% of diamond production globally, per the Gemological Institute of America.)

The ring still remains a standard sparkler for celebs, even the likes of the one and only Barbra Streisand. "I met her at an Oscar party, years ago, and I was at the time engaged to Ben Affleck, and she's really into diamonds, which I didn't know," Lopez said in an interview. "He had given me a pink diamond, which got a lot of press and was whatever. I loved getting it, don't get me wrong. So, she came up to me, and like, she's heard of it. I'm like, 'Oh my God.' And she's like, 'Can I see your ring?' And she asked me about the ring, but then she asked me—and I thought it was so strange—about being famous, and how I handle it."

They Were First Set to Wed in the Fall of 2003

The destination was Santa Barbara, which still remains an ever-popular choice for outdoor weddings. Days before their September 2003 wedding, the event was called off. Though the pair worked through some issues at the time, they ultimately split and confirmed they were parting ways in January 2004.

In a 2014 interview with The Today Show, the "If You Had My Love" singer recalled how her breakup with Affleck was, in fact, her "first big heartbreak." She later told HuffPost Live of the relationship: "I just feel like everything is part of your story and your journey and is meant to be and helps you grow if you're willing to look at it, and I'm willing to look."

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

The Couple Moved On With Other Partners

Affleck eventually ended up marrying actress Jennifer Garner, with whom he shares three kids. The couple first met in 2000 while filming Pearl Harbor. Though at the time, Garner was engaged to her first husband, actor Scott Foley. "We met on Pearl Harbor, which people hate, but we fell in love on Daredevil," Affleck told Playboy of filming in 2002. (He was still with Lopez at the time.) "By the way, she won most of the fights in the movie, which was a pretty good predictor of what would happen down the road — my wife, holding swords and beating the living s— out of me."

In 2015, the couple split right after a humiliating nanny scandal, among other addiction issues on Affleck's part. Garner, for her part, moved on and continues to co-parent the couple's three children with her ex. Affleck has since referred to his divorce as the "biggest regret" of his life.

Meanwhile, Lopez moved on with Marc Anthony. She was later engaged to Alex Rodriguez until early 2021.

Still, J.Lo and Affleck Remained Friends

Even as Lopez weighed her split from fiancé Alex Rodriguez, Affleck consoled her as a friend. The actor also recently emerged from a relationship with Ana de Armas. "They have been in touch here and there throughout the years," a source told E! News in April. "Ben reached out to her to see how she was doing and they had dinner together a few times within this last month. It's natural between them and the chemistry is unreal. They picked up where they last left off and are enjoying each other's company right now."

They Rekindled in 2021

It was only a matter of time until their friendship turned into something more. In fact, marriage. On her 52nd birthday in 2021, Lopez finally confirmed her relationship status with her on-again beau via social media. The multi-hyphenate posted multiple photos of herself to celebrate the occasion, including a sultry kissing snapshot with Affleck. The couple harkened back to the early '00s with yet another "moment" on a yacht.

Elisabetta A. Villa/Getty Images

The newlyweds, whose reconciliation captivated the hearts of many nostalgic fans, made their red carpet debut at the Venice Film Festival on September 10, 2021. Lopez looked resplendent in white alongside Affleck, dapper in his tailored attire, to walk the red carpet for The Last Duel during the 78th Venice International Film Festival. Giving their beloved fans exactly what they wanted, the pair affectionately posed for photographers before sealing the red carpet moment with a mega smooch.

They Filed for Divorce in August 2024

Exactly two years after their Georgia wedding ceremony, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck filed for divorce. News of the split broke after months of reports that the two were spending time apart. Although the paperwork was filed in August, Lopez listed their date of separation as April 26, 2024.