Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck—a history of their relationship in pictures

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have just tied the knot in Vegas, so what better way to celebrate than with a look back at their relationship over the past twenty years.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck just got married in Las Vegas and fans are delighted that the Hollywood legends are finally wed nearly 20 years after their first engagement. The couple has a complicated history and they both have been married to other people at different times. Here is a breakdown of their relationship history and all the most significant moments in their relationship over the years.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck first met more than twenty years ago in 2001

The pair first met on the set of Gigli in 2001. At the time Jennifer was married to her second husband Chris Judd. Jennifer began divorce proceedings with Chris and began dating Ben. 

In 2002 Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck appeared together in her iconic music video

In 2002, Ben and Jennifer were then spotted kissing by paparazzi and soon afterwards Ben starred in one of JLo's most well-known hits, Jenny From the Block.

It was in this iconic music video that Ben was pictured lounging on a yacht and lovingly kissing Jennifer's bottom. 

In November 2002 the couple got engaged

The music video was filmed in October 2002 and released in November 2002. It was in this same month that Jennifer and Ben announced their engagement.

Ben proposed to Jennifer with a $2.5 million Harry Winston 6.1-carat pink diamond ring. In an interview with Diane Sawyer, Jennifer was quoted saying about her ring, "It's the most magnificent thing I've ever seen."

In 2003, the couple attended the premiere for Gigli, the film that they met on

The couple attended a premiere together for the film that ignited their romance, Gigli, in 2003.

In February 2003, the engaged couple attend the premiere of Daredevil

The couple attended the premiere of Daredevil together in 2003 as an engaged couple. This film starred Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner—who would later become Ben's wife—as love interests.

Later in 2003 they postpone their wedding

In the same year, Jen and Ben also decided to postpone their wedding due to the excessive media attention surrounding their relationship. 

The couple released a statement at the time 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 realized that something was awry." 

"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."

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck call off their wedding and announce their separation in 2004

In 2004, the couple called off their wedding and announced their separation. A spokesperson for Jennifer told MTV at the time, "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."

They each went on to marry other people shortly after

Jennifer married Marc Anthony in 2004

Later in 2004, Jennifer married Marc Anthony with whom she had two children. The couple was together from June 2004 to July 2011 when they announced their separation. Marc and Jennifer were divorced in 2014. 

Ben Affleck married Jennifer Garner in 2005

During this time, Ben Affleck also got married to Jennifer Garner, with whom he worked on Pearl Harbour and Daredevil. 

The couple began dating in 2004 and had three children together. They were together from 2005 to 2015 when they announced their separation. The couple divorced in 2018.

Does Ben Affleck have children?

Yes, Ben Affleck and his ex-wife Jennifer Garner have three children together, two girls and a boy. Their eldest daughter is 16 year old Violet Anne Affleck who was born in December 2005. 

Their second daughter Seraphina Rose Elizabeth Affleck who is 13 years old and was born in January 2009. Their youngest child is their son Samuel Garner Affleck who is 10 years old and was born in February 2012. 

Does Jennifer Lopez have children?

Yes, Jennifer Lopez also has children. Jennifer and her ex-husband Marc Anthony have two children who are both 14 years old and were born in February 2008.

Jennifer's children are fraternal twins and are named Maximilian David Muñiz and Emme Maribel Muñiz. In June 2022, Jennifer Lopez and her child, Emme, brought fans to tears with an emotional performance. Emme uses gender-neutral pronouns which was revealed during this incredible performance between mother and child.

Since 2018 Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have both been linked to other people

Jennifer and Ben were both respectively linked to other celebrities following their divorces. Jennifer dated Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) from 2017 to 2021. Ben also dated SNL producer Lindsay Shookus and actress Ana de Armas in the years following his divorce. 

In April 2021 rumours that Bennifer were back on began circulating 

In April 2021, rumors about Ben and Jennifer began to swirl as paparazzi photographed the couple together and sources close to the couple began to leak information that they were getting back together after nearly a decade and a half apart.

For the next few months, the couple was photographed together by paparazzi. The pair were pictured in cars and leaving restaurants together but nothing was confirmed by the pair about their relationship status.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck officially confirm they are an item on July 24th 2021

It wasn't until a post on 24th July 2021, that confirmed Jennifer and Ben have officially reignited their high-profile relationship and given things another go, twenty years after they first met. 

To celebrate her 52nd birthday, Jennifer posted a selection of images to Instagram, including a photo of Ben and Jennifer sharing a passionate kiss. The image was hidden away as the fourth picture on Jennifer's birthday post but eagle-eyed fans spotted it and went wild for the rebirth of 'Bennifer'.

September 2021: Bennifer 2.0 make a statement on the red carpet

In September 2021, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck packed on the PDA during their adorable first public appearance since reuniting. 

The couple was snapped at the 78th Venice Film Festival on Friday, September 10, 2021. The couple kissed on the red carpet and looked delighted to finally make their red carpet debut together since they reunited earlier in the year.

Just a few days later, on 13th September 2021, the couple then made another red carpet statement as the pair arrived arm in arm in New York at the Met Gala 2021.

Again the pair were snapped kissing and a photo of the two sharing a kiss, while still wearing masks, made the rounds on social media.

The elegant pair cemented their relationship status with their warm embraces on the red carpet and fans couldn't help but feel delighted that their favorite noughties couple was back together again.

April 2022: Ben and Jen are engaged

In April 2022, it was announced that Jennifer Lopez was engaged to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez's engagement ring became one of the most talked about engagement rings of all time. 

July 2022: Bennifer ties the knot

In July 2022, it was announced that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez had tied the knot and Jennifer had taken the surname Affleck like her husband. 

In a post signed off by Jennifer Lynn Affleck, the singer and actress said, "They were right when they said, ‘all you need is love.'" JLo added, "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."

She then joked, "Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient."