It’s official Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have tied the knot
According to court documents that PEOPLE was able to obtain, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck received a marriage licence in Clark County, Nevada, over the weekend. The couple tied the knot months after announcing their engagement in April 2022.
Lopez and Affleck previously started dating in July 2002, got engaged in November, and then postponed their September 2003 wedding just days before the date. They released a joint statement postponing the wedding, citing excessive media attention.
“When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate ‘decoy brides’ at three different locations, we realized that something was awry,” the statement read.
“We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised. We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families and our friends.”
The pair split four months later in January, 2004.
The ex-couple reconnected in April of last year, shortly after Lopez ended her four-year engagement to former baseball player Alex Rodriguez.
The reunion with Affleck, and subsequent engagement, sparked a flurry of Bennifer tributes, with the two discussing what the second chance meant.
Affleck told WSJ. Magazine in December about feeling “lucky” to have been given second chances, both in his work and personal life.
“I’ve had second chances in my career. I’ve had second chances as a human being. Life is difficult, and we are always failing and hopefully learning from those failures,” he said. “The one thing you really need to avail yourself of the opportunities provided from that growth is the second chance. I’ve definitely tried to take advantage of that. I haven’t always been successful, but in cases in which I have, they’ve turned out to be the defining aspects of my life.”
Lopez shared that sentiment, telling PEOPLE in February:
“I feel so lucky and happy and proud to be with him. It’s a beautiful love story that we got a second chance.”
Lopez confirmed the couple’s marriage and shared intimate photos and details of the ceremony in her newsletter, On the J.Lo, with the headline “we did it.”
“Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,” she wrote, signed Jennifer Lynn Affleck.
“They were right when they said, ‘all you need is love.’ We are so grateful to have that in abundance, a new wonderful family of five amazing children, and a life that we have never had more reason to look forward to.”
Lopez revealed that she and Affleck flew to Las Vegas, waited in line with four other couples for their licence, and eventually arrived at the Little White Chapel, which has its own drive-through “tunnel of love.” The celebrity couple married shortly after midnight.
Lopez wore a dress from a “old movie” for the ceremony, which she said she “dreamed of long ago,” and Affleck wore a suit jacket from his own wardrobe.
Despite the lack of glitz and glamour, including a Bluetooth speaker playing them down the aisle, Lopez stated that it was the best night of their lives.
“Stick around long enough and maybe you’ll find the best moment of your life in a drive through in Las Vegas at 12.30 in the morning and at the tunnel of love drive through, with your kids and the one you’ll spend forever with,” Lopez said.
“Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things—and worth waiting for.”
