Inside Ben and Jen's wedding that was very different to disastrous cancelled one

21 August 2023 , 09:29

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Inside Ben and Jen's wedding that was very different to disastrous cancelled one

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's guests tucked into southern US food as the happy couple tied the knot for a second time in August last year.

The unlikely favourite of Love Don't Cost a Thing singer JLo was on the menu for the couple and their Hollywood pals at a bash in temperatures sizzling up to 31C. The pair’s rekindled romance, 17 years after splitting up, has gripped the world. Among A-listers who joined the couple – dubbed “Bennifer” – were Matt Damon, George Clooney, Jane Fonda, Renée Zellweger and Jimmy Kimmel.

A catering van was seen arriving ahead of the celebration at their £6.75million estate near Savannah, in the US state of Georgia, which serves southern US specialities including pork, oven roasted chicken and Mac and cheese. Jennifer and Ben went for different option to the pork chop. Actress and singer Jen, 53, once confessed her love of the dish as a late night "cheat meal".

Guests all wearing white arrive to the cocktail reception at Ben and Jen's wedding last year, held at Ben's plantation home near Savannah, GA (SplashNews.com)

Chops with rice and veg is a speciality in her parents’ native Puerto Rico. Jennifer previously told a US mag: "When I moved to LA, I called home and I was like, ‘Mom, I miss your cooking’. I asked her to show me how to make the recipes, so she taught me over the phone."

Ben, 50, and Jennifer were due to have a ceremony conducted by Brit-born former Hindu monk Jay Shetty, 34, a long-time friend of the bride. JLo was expected to wear a custom Ralph Lauren gown, adapted for her by the US designer after he flew in for the celebration.

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The ceremony came a month after the couple secretly wed in Las Vegas – and nearly 21 years after they met on the set of romantic comedy Gigli. Ben first proposed in 2002 but, after postponing the wedding, the couple split in January 2004. Six months later JLo wed singer Marc Anthony – and Ben married actress Jennifer Garner in 2005.

However, both marriages broke down. After JLo’s four-year relationship with baseball star Alex Rodriguez fell apart in April 2021, she found solace with Ben – confirming a month later they were back together. The reunited lovebirds tied the knot in Las Vegas on July 2022.

Sources said at the time that wedding guests present for the second ceremony last year would be treated to southern dishes such as oven- roasted chicken and mac and cheese. They also enjoyed a stunning waterside reception complete with live piano music, a bonfire and fireworks.

Jen and Ben are living happily ever after two decades on from splitting (Instagram)

The actor popped the question for a second time one year on from rekindling his romance with Jen

The three-day event began on Friday August 19 with a rehearsal dinner. It is thought to have cost more than $1million – with $400,000 to prepare the grounds alone. Ben’s mum Anne was given the all-clear to attend after being rushed to hospital days before the bash after cutting her leg when she fell off a dock at the house.

Speaking to fans in April last year, singer and actress Jennifer revealed Ben had popped the question once again - 19 years on from their original engagement and subsequent split - and shared some more details about the "nothing fancy at all" proposal from her now husband.

Writing in her newsletter, On The JLo, Jennifer began by asking fans if they ever imagine their biggest dream coming true. "Saturday night while at my favorite place on earth (in the bubble bath), my beautiful love got on one knee and proposed," she gushed in the email update.

"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."

She continued to admit after the actor's proposal she was left crying with joy and 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," she added when recalling the romantic moment.

Grant Hodgson