Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck celebrated their marriage on Saturday, August 20, surrounded by family and friends at their residence in Riceboro, Georgia, located on the Hampton Island preserve just outside of Savannah. Jennifer had a distinct vision for every event during their wedding weekend, and to bring it to fruition, they enlisted the expertise of Colin Cowie from Colin Cowie Lifestyle to oversee all the details. The weekend commenced with a rehearsal dinner on Friday night.
For her walk down the aisle, the bride adorned herself in a custom Ralph Lauren Collection gown. Ralph Lauren has consistently been the preferred designer for the ‘Marry Me’ actor. The wedding gown worn during the ceremony marked the first of three Ralph Lauren dresses that comprised her lineup of looks for the evening.
Over 1,000 handkerchiefs and 500 meters of fabric were meticulously crafted into ruffles, producing an ethereal interpretation of Ralph Lauren’s classic turtleneck column dress. The ruffles were then intricately attached by hand, forming a voluminous, romantic skirt. The sleeve featured a cascading ruffle, gracefully draped from the back of the turtleneck to the shoulder. An additional layer of details was added with a cathedral-length veil.
The 45-minute ceremony unfolded beneath the white metal framework of a specially crafted church, set in the back garden overlooking the North Newport River. Delphiniums adorned the structure, with arches of the same flower, skillfully designed by Jenevieve Peralta Floral Design and Tulips & Twigs, anchoring the walkway down the aisle.
Following the ceremony, family and friends, all clad in white, gathered for a drinks reception at the residence before proceeding to the barn for dinner, expertly overseen by chef Bruce Moffett and Cru Catering. The night’s festivities culminated with a cake from Minette Rushing Custom Cakes, a dance party led by DJ Dubz, and a spectacular fireworks display. Jennifer later adorned two more dresses by Ralph Lauren, one featuring cascading strings of pearls, and the other boasting a mermaid silhouette and a Swarovski-crystal-embellished keyhole neckline.
The couple’s wedding marks the culmination of a love story that spans more than 20 years. They first crossed paths in 2001 while filming the movie Gigli. In November of 2002, Ben proposed with a 6.1-carat pink solitaire diamond from Harry Winston. However, the day before the September 2003 ceremony, the couple announced the decision to postpone their wedding due to excessive media attention. In a joint statement at the time, they explained, “When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate ‘decoy brides’ at three different locations, we realized 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.”
A year later, following sightings of her adorned with a rare bright green square-shaped natural diamond flanked by white trapezoid diamonds, Jennifer confirmed her engagement to Ben for a second time. The two surprised fans once again when they exchanged vows at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas in June.