Jennifer Lopez said escaping with Ben Affleck in Las Vegas was “the best night of our lives” during a visit to Wednesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC.
The 53-year-old actress, who wore a long pink dress that showed off her cleavage, shared the backstory of her quickie marriage to Ben, 50, in July 2022.
“We were going to get married in Savannah in August, the family would be there, everyone would be there and it was so stressful,” Jennifer said. “A month ago, and I don’t know if you know that, but 20 years ago we were supposed to get married.”
Best night: Jennifer Lopez said escaping with Ben Affleck in Las Vegas was “the best night of our lives” during a visit to Wednesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC
“I heard that,” joked host Jimmy, 55.
“And then it kind of just kind of fell apart and this time I absolutely had a little PTSD and I was like, ‘Is this happening?'” Jennifer said. “We were so happy, but I felt like the wedding was so stressful, and one day Ben just said, ‘Fuck it, let’s just go to Vegas and get married tonight.'”
Jennifer said it was the same day they just had a big wedding planning meeting and she also had a rehearsal for her show that same day.
“He said, ‘Go to rehearsal when you come back, I’ll finish setting everything up,'” Jennifer said.
Quickie wedding: The 53-year-old actress, who wore a long pink dress that showed off her cleavage, told Ben, 50, the backstory of her quickie wedding in July 2022
So stressful: “We were planning on getting married in Savannah in August, the family would be there, everyone would be there and it was so stressful,” Jennifer said on the ABC show
She said three of her children were at the camp, but two of them were with her.
“He said, ‘You’re going to be our witnesses, let’s go, we’ll do it tonight,’ and we did it,” Jennifer said. ‘It was wonderful. It was the best night of our lives.”
When they got engaged for the second time 20 years later, Jimmy asked if there had to be another engagement ring.
Bold move: “We were so happy, but I felt like the wedding was so stressful, and one day Ben just said, ‘Fuck it, let’s just go to Vegas and get married tonight,'” Jennifer said
Wedding Photos: Jennifer shared photos from her Las Vegas on her website
Cute couple: Ben kissed Jennifer while supporting his wife at the premiere of their new movie Shotgun Wedding on Wednesday
Hollywood Stars: Jennifer Coolidge, who also stars in Shotgun Wedding, teamed up with Jennifer and Ben on the carpet
“Yeah, he had to ask me again,” Jennifer said. ‘I didn’t have it anymore.’
Jimmy asked her if she liked the name “Bennifer”.
“I’ve learned to accept it,” Jennifer said. “Years ago it was like, ‘Oh, Bennifer.’ Actually it wasn’t a bad thing even years ago, but I think it turned into a thing that people made fun of.”
Good question: Jimmy, 55, asked Jennifer if she liked the name “Bennifer” for her and Ben
Jimmy pointed out that they got married at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Vegas. Jennifer said she later wrote an entire song called “Midnight Trip To Vegas” about the wedding chapel, including the pink Cadillac parked outside.
Jimmy asked about their wedding night in Vegas.
“It was very fun because you have to get the license and the whole thing first,” Jennifer said. “We weren’t standing by the DMV, we were standing by the County Clerk’s office and we’re just standing there and Ben is standing there and there’s this couple in front of us with a baby, a gay couple behind us. We were lined up with them from 10 to midnight like we left at the last, last minute. Everyone was kinda chilled. Nobody freaked out or anything, but they were like, “Hey, what are you doing here?” and we thought we were going to get married.”
Wedding Chapel: Jimmy pointed out that they got married at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Vegas
Cadillac parking lot: Jennifer said she later wrote an entire song called “Midnight Trip To Vegas” about the wedding chapel and included the pink Cadillac parked in front of it
Jennifer said when they got out they waited for her in the chapel because they knew someone would be coming at midnight.
“They said, ‘Do you need Elvis?’ and we said, “No, we don’t need an Elvis impersonator, we’ll just take whoever is there who can legally marry us,” said Jennifer.
Jennifer later said they had a family wedding in Georgia. Jimmy said it was falsely reported that he was at their wedding and people texted him to ask about it.
Elvis option: “They said, ‘Do you need Elvis?’ and we said, “No, we don’t need an Elvis impersonator, we’ll just take whoever is there who can legally marry us,” said Jennifer
“I just wanted to ask why we didn’t go to the wedding,” Jimmy said.
“I could say the same thing,” Jennifer said. ‘Aren’t you and Ben really good friends?’
“Well, I thought so, yes,” said Jimmy. “Ben must have been at my wedding. I wonder if maybe Matt Damon had something to do with it? ‘
Wedding in Georgia: Jennifer later said that they had a family wedding in Georgia
“It’s possible,” Jennifer said. ‘I do not know. I’ll get into that later. I’ll find out and get to the bottom of it and get back to you.”
Jimmy then gave her his wedding present of silver cups engraved with the Dunkin’ Donuts logo.
“Ben’s going to like this,” Jennifer said, given her husband’s affinity for the coffee shop.
Wedding Present: Jimmy then gave her his wedding present of silver cups engraved with the Dunkin’ Donuts logo
Jimmy then asked her about her new album called This Is Me Now.
“I made an album 20 years ago that obviously had a song called ‘Dear Ben,’ which was around the time me and Ben were dating,” Jennifer said. “I was very inspired when we got back together. It was like a miracle and something none of us ever thought would happen and I went into the studio and wrote an album in two months.
Jimmy said that there is a second part of Dear Ben on her new album.
Was inspired: “I was very inspired when we got back together. It was like a miracle and something none of us ever thought would happen and I went into the studio and wrote an album in two months,” said Jennifer
“There is,” Jennifer said.
Jimmy said he didn’t have the lyrics to the new song, but read from the lyrics “Dear Ben,” part one.
“You’re perfect,” Jimmy read.
Lyrics: immy said he didn’t have the lyrics to the new song but read from the lyrics to Dear Ben, part one
‘He is!’ said Jennifer.
“I just can’t control myself,” Jimmy read.
“I can’t,” Jennifer yelled.
Good times: Jennifer agreed with the lyrics about Ben that she wrote 20 years ago
“I can’t be with anyone else,” Jimmy read.
“No,” said Jennifer.
“It seems I’m addicted to the way you like to touch me,” Jimmy read.
‘Yes!’ said Jennifer.
Pink power: The actress wore a pink dress with side cutouts and a revealing front
“I was younger then,” Jennifer added. “I felt like those lyrics were genuinely innocent. This album is obviously 20 years older and so are we.”
Jennifer appeared on the show to promote her new film, Shotgun Wedding, which premieres January 27 on Amazon Prime.
Jennifer was on her way to the premiere after the show.
Action comedy: Jennifer appeared on the show to promote her new film, Shotgun Wedding, which premieres January 27 on Amazon Prime
Fake video showed a helicopter landing on the building’s roof and Lenny Kravitz, 58, then walked in and hugged Jennifer.
“Did I mention Lenny Kravitz is in the movie!” said Jennifer.
“Shotgun Wedding premieres tonight and I came to invite the entire audience,” Lenny said.
Surprise appearance: Fake video showed a helicopter landing on the roof of the building and Lenny Kravitz, 58, then walked in and hugged Jennifer
The audience stood up screaming.
Jennifer then took Lenny’s hand and said she had to go.
“The chopper’s waiting,” Jennifer said as she walked Lenny to her premiere.
Take off: “The helicopter is waiting,” Jennifer said as she walked to her premiere with Lenny