Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck to throw three-day wedding following Las Vegas ceremony

Washington [US], August 16: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are all set to exchange vows for the second time. Yes, you read it right.

Swati Bhat

As per Page Six, the lovebirds, who got married in July this year, will continue celebrating their love with a three-day wedding extravaganza this weekend, Page Six reported. "It's going to be all about J.Lo. Ben wants all of the focus to be on her for their big day," an insider told the publication. "Their three-day intimate celebration for family and friends will kick off with a rehearsal dinner on Friday," the source added. The actual ceremony will take place on Saturday, and the couple will close out their weekend with a barbecue and picnic on Sunday. Jennifer will reportedly wear a custom couture Ralph Lauren dress made in Italy, and Vogue magazine is expected to document her fashion journey for the weekend. Ben's close friends Matt Damon, Jimmy Kimmel, Drea de Matteo, and brother Casey Affleck are expected to attend the wedding. Ben, 49, and Jennifer, 53, surprised fans in July when they revealed they wed at A Little White Chapel in Las Vegas.

The high-profile pair who met in 2001 when they both starred in the movie "Gigli," embarked on a very public romance and got engaged the following year. The wedding was postponed and in 2004 they called it quits. Ben went on to marry "Alias" star Jennifer Garner, with whom he shares three children, Violet, 16, Seraphina, 14, and Samuel, 10. They finalized their divorce in 2018 and he went on to date "SNL" producer Lindsay Shookus and Cuban actress Ana de Armas who he met on the set of their film, "Deep Water."

On the other hand, Jennifer married singer Marc Anthony in June 2004, with whom she shares twins, Emme and Max, born in 2008. The pair eventually divorced. And in May 2021, Ben and Jennifer sparked dating rumours when they were spotted holding hands while on vacation in Montana. Jennifer revealed in her 'On the JLo' newsletter that she and Affleck, 49, tied the knot at A Little White Chapel. In the newsletter, she wrote, "So with the best witnesses you could ever imagine, a dress from an old movie and a jacket from Ben's closet, we read our own vows in the little chapel and gave one another the rings we'll wear for the rest of our lives," adding that the ceremony was "exactly what we wanted."

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Jennifer Lopez raises USD 3.6 million at L.A. Dodgers Foundation Gala

Los Angeles [US], June 17: The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation celebrated its sixth Blue Diamond Gala on Thursday night with some of the major names in the world of Los Angeles sports stars and a headlining set from Jennifer Lopez. This has been the first time the annual event is held since the pandemic struck in 2019.

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Pic Courtesy: Jennifer Lopez Twitter

The event, dubbed 'The Party for L.A.,' raised a record-breaking USD 3.6 million for LADF, which aims to improve education, health care, homelessness and social justice for all Angelenos and, since 1995, has invested more than USD 40 million in programs and grants to non-profits throughout the city, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

The gala also congratulated LADF's Everyday Champions, whose work in the community has been hampered by the COVID19 pandemic but who have been able to step up and make a difference.

Almost the entire Dodgers roster was in attendance at the event, including stars Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts, Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger, and manager Dave Roberts. Venus Williams, Dodgers owner Mark Walter and Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss had also attended the event.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, LADF CEO Nichol Whiteman took the stage for a brief speech ahead of JLo's performance, saying, "This year's gala reflects our endless potential when we combine our efforts and insist on making a difference in the lives of those who need us most."

"It is no mistake that we stand on this magical field, this field of dreams, where our Boys in Blue won the 2020 championship. In that life-altering year, we showed the world that we are champions on and off the field. We helped some of the most vulnerable communities survive an avalanche of uncertainty and pain," she added.

"Tonight, we honour our comprehensive work but we also recognized the individuals who voluntarily jumped into the unknown, pushed past fear, to help Angelenos navigate these trying times. When so much of the world shut down, these heroes stepped up," Whiteman concluded.

Jennifer Lopez, fresh from her Netflix documentary Halftime, following her 2020 Super Bowl performance, took the stage for the final hour of the gala. She performed her hits amid five costume changes and elaborate choreography with a dozen backup dancers.

After JLo teased, "I know we're in L.A. but I've got to keep it 'New York' forever," with some of her N.Y.-centered tunes, Lopez told the crowd, "This is a big night for all of you all, and a big night for me too."

While taking the stage, she said, "They told me that 8.8 million children's lives are touched by this foundation every year. Give yourselves a round of applause, a pat on the back."

"We all know that children are going to take over this world and we need to take care of them, raise them right, teach them how to give, give them what they need, and to help one another. That's really why you're here tonight," Lopez added.

The gala concluded with an after-show party featuring DJ Severe from The Dodgers and food from California Pizza Kitchen, Dunkin', Melissa's Produce, Milk Bar and In-N-Out.

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