It’s almost 20 years since their last engagement – but is there trouble in paradise for Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck a second time around?
According to reports, Jennifer has been “stressing out” over Ben’s laid back attitude to their wedding.
She is said to be organising an “intimate but elaborate” ceremony as she prepares to walk down the aisle for a fourth time.
But Ben, who shares three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, is reportedly reluctant to get involved in the wedding planning – leaving his fiancée frustrated.
And insiders claim the 49-year-old actor is in no rush to wed Jennifer, 52, and would happily wait until next year to tie the knot.
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A source told Closer magazine: “They are still very much together and planning their long term future, but Ben is very much dragging his heels when it comes to organising the wedding - and it’s stressing Jen out.
“It seems Ben is happy to wait until next year to get married. He and his team have told people it’s going to be a fairly long engagement and they’re happy just doing their thing without any stress.
“But that’s not really what Jen wants after what happened last time. She can’t help worrying about the wedding being called off last minute.”
Both Jennifer and Ben admitted the reason they called their first wedding off was due to the intense media scrutiny around their high profile romance.
They were due to walk down the aisle in September 2003, but cancelled the ceremony just a few days before.
In a joint statement released at the time, the couple – known as Bennifer – said: “Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date.”
It continued: “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.”
Although Bennifer originally said they were postponing the wedding, it never happened.
News of their split was announced in January 2004, with Jennifer confirming it through her spokesperson.
“I am confirming the report that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck. At this difficult time, we ask you respect her privacy,” the statement said.
Just a few months later J-Lo had moved on with singer and actor Marc Antony.
They married in June 2004 and welcomed twins Max and Emme in 2008, who are now 14.
Following her failed relationship with ‘A Rod’ Alex Rodriguez and Ben’s split from actress Ana de Armas, the two were spotted hanging out again in April 2021.
Just a year later it was announced the pair were engaged – with Ben proposing while Jennifer was in a bubble bath.
Speaking about the magical moment, she said: “Did you ever imagine your biggest dream would come true?
“Saturday night while at my favourite place on earth (in the bubble bath), my beautiful love got down on one knee and proposed.
“I was taken totally off guard and just looked in his eyes smiling and crying at the same time trying 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.”
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