Cheryl Hines's Wedding and Engagement Rings from Robert Kennedy, Jr.: All the Scoop!

The actress and the Kennedy exchanged Neil Lane rings

Published on August 6, 2014 09:44PM EDT

Courtesy Neil Lane(2); Inset:Jason Merritt/Getty

For many brides-to-be, a traditional engagement ring with a central diamond is a must — and the bigger the bling the better. But for Cheryl Hines, who married Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Aug. 2nd at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, a less conventional style better fit her lifestyle.

“We tried more typical, classic engagement rings where the diamond sits in the middle, but Cheryl felt she does so much with her hands, she mentioned her work with the environment and outdoors that she wanted something gorgeous but also one where she could use her hands freely,” says jeweler Neil Lane, who worked with the actress for several months to design the perfect ring: a 5-carat “wider than usual” sparkler styled with two outer rows of round diamonds and centered by 25 French-cut diamonds set in rose gold. “She was totally open to ideas and we went back and forth. It was a really fun, hush-hush process.”

While Hines took the design lead — a fast-growing trend among brides, Lane notes — Kennedy Jr. weighed in and offered support. “He was charming and very gracious and wanted her to have the ring she wanted, and he loved what she chose,” Lane says. Hines’s more classic wedding band, also in rose gold and set with dozens of small diamonds, complemented the engagement ring perfectly.

That said, Lane adds, “while the rings are beautiful and a lot of fun to wear, it’s the couple’s connection that was clear and made Cheryl gloriously happy. She was very excited about the wedding and talked about how much fun they have together. I’ve worked with her for years and it was truly lovely to see Cheryl so happy!”

What do you think of the rings? Are you excited to see more photos in this week’s PEOPLE?

–Elizabeth Leonard