Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez Shares The REAL Reason She Eloped To Las Vegas With Ben Affleck

Home / News / Jennifer Lopez Shares The REAL Reason She Eloped To Las Vegas With Ben Affleck

By Favour Adegoke on January 17, 2023 at 7:00 AM PST

Jennifer Lopez finally revealed the reason behind her Vegas wedding to actor Ben Affleck.

Lopez and Affleck announced their second engagement in April 2022, about 20 years after they first dated and got engaged.

The couple subsequently got married in a private ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada, before hosting another opulent ceremony in Georgia a month later.

Read on for more details.

Article continues below advertisement

Why Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck Eloped To Las Vegas

JLo Just Proved Everyone Needs THIS Dress in Their Closet!
MEGA

The "Hustlers" actress revealed that she and Affleck had to elope to Vegas for a secret ceremony to avoid the stress associated with planning a large family wedding.

When asked about her wedding planning during a press event for her new film "Shotgun Wedding," Lopez reportedly joked that the stress of planning was what ultimately led to their decision.

"I think that's why we ran off to Vegas and got married there first," Lopez said per Insider. "Took all the pressure off of the big family wedding that we were having."

Lopez commended Affleck for planning the surprise wedding, saying, "He has an amazing eye. He has incredible taste... But everything we do, we try and do it together."

"Planning a wedding is a lot. Very stressful," the singer pointed out.

Article continues below advertisement

They Barely Made It To Their Wedding

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Premiere of 'The Last Duel' during the 78th Venice Film Festival at Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido in Venice, Italy,
MEGA

The "Ain't it Funny" singer revealed that, but for the kindness of the Little White Wedding Chapel, she and her husband Affleck almost did not make it to their Vegas wedding.

According to Insider, Lopez, 53, explained in her newsletter that she and Affleck arrived at the church for their wedding very late and that the church had stayed open until after midnight to accommodate their wedding.

"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)," she wrote.

Article continues below advertisement
Jennifer Lopez
MEGA
Article continues below advertisement

The singer also disclosed that they had to wait in line behind four other couples to get their marriage license in Clark County, Nevada, before heading to Vegas.

"[We] stood in line for a license with four other couples, all making the same journey to the wedding capital of the world," Lopez said.

She added, "Behind us, two men held hands and held each other. In front of us, was a young couple who made the three-hour drive from Victorville on their daughter's second birthday—all of us wanting the same thing— for the world to recognize us as partners and to declare our love to the world through the ancient and nearly universal symbol of marriage."

Article continues below advertisement

Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck Held A Lavish Wedding In Georgia

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck attend the Lakers vs Boston game
MEGA

Last August, the couple celebrated their marriage with a grand ceremony on Affleck's Georgia estate after having their private wedding in Vegas with their children present.

According to People, Lopez was dressed in a white Ralph Lauren gown with a long, flowing train and veil, while Affleck wore a tuxedo with a white jacket and black pants.

The ceremony was officiated by popular podcaster and life coach Jay Shetty. It lasted for three days and had Lopez and Affleck's friends and family in attendance. Amongst notable celebrities present for the occasion were Matt Damon, Affleck's close pal, and Leah Remini, Lopez's best friend.

Ben Affleck Met Jennifer Lopez On The Set Of 'Gigli'

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez file photos. 30 Apr 2021 Pictured: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. Photo credit: MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA751653_008.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]
MEGA

The "Ain't Your Mama" singer and the "Deep Water" actor first dated in 2002 after meeting on the set of the critically panned romantic comedy movie, "Gigli."

Affleck proposed to the singer at the time with a custom-made, six-carat pink diamond engagement ring from Harry Winston.

"It's just a blanket, a quilt of rose petals, all over the entire house," Lopez said of the unexpected proposal in Boston, per Insider. "So many candles, and vases, bouquets. And my song 'Glad' was playing ... I walk in and I was just overwhelmed. I wasn't expecting it, and I was just like 'Oh my God.'"

The duo called off their engagement in Fall of 2003, blaming excessive media attention. "That was part of what destroyed us, the outside energy that was coming at us. It was hard and we loved each other," Lopez noted.

Article continues below advertisement