Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were tonight preparing for their megastar marriage – with guests tucking into southern US food..
The unlikely favourite of 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 expected to join the couple – dubbed “Bennifer” – were Matt Damon, George Clooney, Jane Fonda, Renée Zellweger and Jimmy Kimmel.
A catering van was seen arriving 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”.
Chops with rice and veg is a speciality in her parents’ native Puerto Rico.
She 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.
The ceremony comes 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. But both marriages broke down. After JLo’s four-year relationship with baseball star Alex Rodriguez fell apart in April last year, she found solace with Ben – confirming a month later they were back together.
Sources said wedding guests would be treated to southern dishes such as oven- roasted chicken and mac and cheese.
They were tonight set for a stunning waterside reception complete with live piano music, a bonfire and fireworks.
The three-day event began on Friday 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 on Friday after cutting her leg when she fell off a dock at the house.
