Aiyana Dieselle Jaffe and Robert William O’Connell, both Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) alumni, recently solidified their partnership in marriage following a journey that unfolded through shared creative pursuits and longtime affection. The couple, who combined their distinct design sensibilities—Jaffe in micro-scale jewelry and O’Connell in large-scale interior design—celebrated their wedding on June 5 at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau.

Jaffe, 31, holds a bachelor’s degree in illustration and is the product development manager at fashion jewelry brand Laura Lombardi, as well as the founder of a custom fine jewelry line under her own name. O’Connell, 32, graduated with a degree in industrial design and currently serves as design director at Martin Brûlé Studio, a firm specializing in interior architecture and design with several locations.

Their relationship began in March 2016 when Jaffe approached O’Connell at his welcome back party at an off-campus house in Providence. After a shared hour-long dance and brief conversation, the two quickly bonded over mutual interests and regular meetings around the RISD campus. Their early interactions included coffee dates and visits to each other’s design studios, where they explored each other’s creative work, from O’Connell’s sculptural furniture concepts to Jaffe’s playful wooden toys and silver jewelry in progress. Both described an instant connection that deepened as their social circles merged.

Following their graduations, the couple maintained a long-distance relationship, with O’Connell living in Metuchen, New Jersey, and Jaffe returning to Bridgehampton, New York. They frequently visited one another on weekends, engaging in museum and gallery outings. In 2019, they relocated to Brooklyn, first sharing a small apartment in East Williamsburg and later moving to Park Slope in 2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they adopted a plant-based diet and spent time playing backgammon and taking walks, solidifying their bond through shared routines.

The engagement came as a surprise in December 2024. O’Connell proposed using a 1957 silver box by French designer Maria Pergay, which Jaffe had admired months earlier at a gallery opening in Manhattan. Inside, a handwritten note accompanied the box, and O’Connell presented a “coupon” for one engagement ring, acknowledging the couple’s practical approach—he did not purchase a traditional ring to propose. Jaffe subsequently designed the ring herself, featuring two one-carat cushion-cut diamonds set on a white gold band, and also created their wedding bands.

The ceremony was officiated by Deborah Bowman at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau in the presence of the couple’s parents. A reception followed at ABCV, a plant-based restaurant near the Flatiron District, attended by approximately 65 guests. Jaffe wore dresses by Cecilie Bahnsen and Pauline Dujancourt, while O’Connell donned a black wool ensemble by Séfr, pairing it with a vintage Issey Miyake shirt and a custom fossilized coral brooch.

Guests contributed to the celebration by sketching and writing notes on pink paper with black crayons, lending the event an informal, creative atmosphere reminiscent of a gallery opening. Reflecting their shared appreciation for artistry and design, O’Connell, who is adopting Jaffe’s surname, described the evening as a flowing, unstructured gathering emphasizing fun and personal expression.