Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have postponed their Sunday wedding because they feared it would be spoiled by a media scrum.

They claim the press attention might have forced them to hire as many as three decoy brides at different sites.

"Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date. When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate 'decoy brides' at three different locations, we realised that something was awry," said a joint statement released by Dan Klores, Lopez's New York-based spokesman.

"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," the statement said.

US Weekly magazine had reported that the vows and reception would occur at Sotto Il Monte, a private $29 million (£19 million) estate in the Montecito area, near Santa Barbara.

Guests including Matt Damon, Bruce Willis, Matthew Perry and Alec Baldwin were set to be shuttled to the wedding from nearby resort hotels, the magazine said.

Some celebrity journalists said they feared the postponement report could itself be a fake-out to dupe the press.

"I think it's a good possibility. I think it's at least 50-50 that the wedding will still take place this weekend but perhaps in a different location," said editor Bonnie Fuller, who oversees 14 magazines including the Enquirer, the Star and the Globe.

Source: Press Release