Looking back at the relationship between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck

Jenny from the Block

Lopez and Affleck, seen here on the set of Lopez’s music video for “Jenny from the Block” in October 2002, met on the set of Gigli in 2002. Shortly thereafter, the two made their romance public and quickly became one of the first celebrity couples to earn a nickname: Bennifer.

On your marks, get set, go

The music video featured Affleck and focused in part on the media frenzy surrounding the couple. In the video, the couple is followed by photographers, seen reading tabloids about themselves, canoodling on a yacht, and more.

Jersey Girls

Although she comes from the South Bronx, that did not stop Lopez from Jersey girl. In November 2002, Lopez and Affleck appeared on the big screen in the film of the same name, but her character does not spend much time on screen.

Romances on and off the screen

In November 2002, Lopez and Affleck filmed a scene from the movie in Central Park in which they took a romantic carriage ride together.

Wedding bells

That same month, Affleck proposed to Lopez with a 6.1-carat pink solitaire diamond by Harry Winston.

Lopez told Diane Sawyer at the time that Affleck’s proposal was “traditional, but also in a very spectacular way, because of course Ben would do it … it was very, very beautiful.”

Quite a couple

Lopez told Sawyer of their relationship: “We’ve talked about it so many times and how people see him as… one type of person and me as another type of person, and when the two of us get together, we’re like, ‘How did that happen?’ And that we’re probably more similar and come from the same background… the same upbringing, the same family, the same house.”

Maids for each other

In December 2002, Affleck accompanied Lopez to the premiere of her film. Maid in Manhattan.

Ready for the red carpet

And in February 2003, Lopez accompanied her husband to Daredevil Premiere.

This golden shine

The couple arrived hand in hand at the 2003 Academy Awards, and if that’s not proof enough that there should be an Oscar for Most Beautiful Couple, we don’t know what could be.

Lots of public declarations of affection

As if they hadn’t heated up the red carpet enough, the two made themselves comfortable in the Vanity Fair After party.

Playing time

In May 2003, the two kissed on the sidelines of a Los Angeles Lakers playoff game.

Smile for the camera

In July 2003, Affleck and Lopez celebrated with beaming faces the film that started it all – Giglio — at the premiere of the film.

Take a breather

The premiere was to be their last red carpet appearance as a couple. In September 2003, just one day before their planned wedding date, the couple announced that they were postponing their wedding due to the media frenzy surrounding the event.

In a joint statement, they said: “Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date. When we seriously considered hiring three different ‘fake brides’ in three different locations, we realized something was wrong. We felt that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be spoiled. We felt that what should have been a joyous and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families and our friends.”

On the way

Despite the postponement, the couple appeared happy as they headed to dinner in New York in October 2003.

Boston Beau

PEOPLE previously reported that Affleck and Lopez rekindled their relationship after a brief split following the canceled wedding. In October 2003, Lopez cheered on the Boston Red Sox with Affleck, who sported a goatee.

In January 2004, the couple officially separated.