Jennifer Lopez on Why She and Ben Affleck Eloped in Vegas and the ‘Emotional’ Transition of Blending Families

Jennifer Lopez is kicking off the new year with Shotgun Wedding promotion—and anecdotes about her own wedding last year to Ben Affleck.

During press appearances for the film, Lopez discussed why the two eloped in Las Vegas in July prior to having their bigger Georgia wedding at the end of August, and what it has been like blending their families. Lopez has 14-year-old twins Emme and Max with her ex Marc Anthony, while Affleck and ex-wife Jennifer Garner share 17-year-old Violet, 14-year-old Seraphina, and 10-year-old Samuel.

On The Today Show yesterday, Lopez said, “We [Ben and I] moved in together. The kids moved in together. It’s been, like, a really kind of emotional transition, but at the same time all your dreams coming true and it’s just been a phenomenal year, like best year, I think, since my kids were born.” She called her husband “a sweetheart.”

During a press conference for the film, Lopez touched on the intensity of wedding planning (“Planning a wedding is a lot. Very stressful,” she said), which motivated the two to just elope, via Insider.

“I think that’s why we ran off to Vegas and got married there first,” she said. “Took all the pressure off of the big family wedding that we were having.” She added that Affleck planned that Vegas ceremony, but they tag-teamed their Georgia wedding.

“He has an amazing eye,” she said. “He has incredible taste, but everything we do, we try and do it together.”

Senior News and Strategy Editor

Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.