Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck—who broke off their engagement in 2003 before rekindling their romance nearly two decades later—shared insight into why they called off their first wedding.

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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez attend the Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon MGM Studios “This Is Me…Now: A Love Story” at Dolby Theatre on February 13, 2024 in Hollywood, California.

 

Don’t be fooled by the rock Jennifer Lopez has got on now.

After all, her wedding ring from husband Ben Affleck symbolizes a much deeper story. As the “Jenny from the Block” singer explained, she experienced years of heartache before rekindling her romance with the Oscar winner, who she was engaged to during the early aughts before their 2003 breakup.

So, what went wrong in their relationship the first time?

“Ben and I, we broke up three days before our wedding,” Lopez recalled in her new documentary “The Greatest Love Story Never Told.” “We had a big wedding planned—14 ushers and bridesmaids—and three days before, we just crumbled under the pressure.”

Affleck echoed the sentiment, sharing in the Amazon Prime doc that the reason behind the split was “the massive amount of scrutiny around our private life.”

However, the couple agreed that calling off their first wedding led them each on a self-discovery journey, one that eventually helped them cross paths again when they reconciled in 2021. They tied the knot at a Las Vegas ceremony in July 2022, before saying “I do” at a massive wedding in Georgia the following month.

“For all those years, it was really hard because I didn’t just feel like I lost the love of my life, I felt like I lost the best friend that I ever had,” Jennifer remembered of their time apart. “And I couldn’t talk for so many years, and that was the hardest part.”

Admitting that she was “angry” at Affleck for a while, the Grammy winner continued, “But that heartbreak set both of us on a course to figuring ourselves out to being better people.”

During that period, Lopez gave birth to her 16-year-old twins Max and Emme, who she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony. Meanwhile, Affleck welcomed kids Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 11, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

For Lopez, she found peace after forgiving both Affleck and herself for their past issues.

“I feel like I came out the other side,” she said in the documentary. “I’ve made it through. I’ve made something good of my life. I’m proud of that.”

Jennifer Lopez Reveals New Photos from Georgia Wedding with Ben Affleck: ‘This Is Heaven’

“Some old wounds were healed that day and the weight of the past finally lifted off our shoulders,” she said in her On the JLo newsletter

Jennifer Lopez is letting fans in on the romantic details of her and husband Ben Affleck’s weekend wedding festivities.

The couple celebrated their nuptials Saturday, Aug. 20, alongside friends and family on the grounds of Affleck’s 87-acre compound outside Savannah, Georgia.

In her On the JLo newsletter on Thursday, Lopez recounted the day of her wedding, describing the moment she walked down the aisle in her white Ralph Lauren gown with a long, flowing train and veil. She reflected on the surreal feeling of seeing Affleck’s face at the end of the aisle, describing it as both making perfect sense and feeling like an incredible dream.

“When he saw me appear at the top of the stairs that moment it both made absolute sense while seeming still impossibly hard to believe, like the best dream, where all you want is never to awaken,” she wrote. “I would have had many of the same thoughts probably had I not been focusing so hard on not tripping over my dress, but when I got close enough to see his face, it made the same wonderful sense to me.”

Reflecting on the significance of the day, Lopez expressed that it brought healing to old wounds and lifted the weight of the past off their shoulders. Despite not unfolding as planned, she described the experience as full-circle and ultimately better.

Lopez also shared a quote from Affleck’s 2016 movie Live By Night that deeply resonated with her, and which he included in his speech at their reception: “This is heaven. Right Here. We’re in it now.” She explained that it was one of her favorite lines from Affleck’s movie, and hearing him say it at their wedding reception felt perfect.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. ONTHEJLO AND JOHN RUSSO

After they originally dated from 2002 to 2004, Affleck and Lopez rekindled their romance last year and announced their engagement this past April. The couple tied the knot at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas during an intimate midnight ceremony in July.

In her newsletter, Lopez, 53, said she and Affleck, 50, “laughed the night before about getting married again at our age.” She explained, “We had both been married before and we aren’t exactly kids any more but somehow now seemed like the only age that made sense.”

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. ONTHEJLO AND JOHN RUSSO
In her reflection, the Marry Me singer/actress emphasized the uniqueness of each person’s journey, acknowledging that everyone’s story unfolds differently. For her and Affleck, the timing felt perfect, marked by a deep understanding of loss and joy, and a readiness to appreciate every precious moment without allowing trivial distractions to overshadow them.

“We find ourselves in that long-desired time of life: having gratitude for all that life has shown us, even its trials and tribulations. That night really was heaven,” she expressed.

Lopez concluded by expressing their profound happiness, affirming that they couldn’t have been happier with how everything unfolded.

JOHN RUSSO/ONTHEJLO

“Years ago, we had no idea the road ahead would mean navigating so many labyrinths and hold so many surprises, blessings and delights. It all culminated in this moment, one of the most perfect of our lives,” she shared. “We couldn’t have been happier. I wish all of you the same kind of happiness…the hard-earned kind that’s all the sweeter for the journey that came before it.”

Some stars in attendance for the Georgia festivities included Affleck’s longtime friends Matt Damon and his wife Luciana, director Kevin Smith and his wife Jennifer, Clerks actor Jason Mewes and his wife, Jordan Monsanto, and top Hollywood talent agent Patrick Whitesell and his wife, model/actress Pia Miller. Affleck’s actor brother Casey, 47, was unable to attend but welcomed Lopez to the family on Instagram.