Real New England Weddings: Carrie Neff & Anastasia Maley

Photos by Kim Thiel Photography

When Carrie Neff and Anastasia Maley met through their sorority at Villanova, the pair bonded over their shared interest in social justice and charity. But with Carrie doing a year of postgrad volunteer service in Chicago and Stasia finishing up school in Pennsylvania, there wasn’t time for much else. Two years into their friendship, they led a mission trip to Tijuana together, where they volunteered at orphanages, studied immigrant rights, and began falling in love.

The couple had been dating for four years when one night, while skiing in upstate New York, Stasia asked Carrie to pull over on the side of the mountain. “Neither of us really know sign language,” Stasia says, “but I thought it would be a unique way to propose. I learned a few sentences and signed them to her — she had no idea what I was saying.” So Stasia signed them again and then said the words out loud, ending with, “Will you marry me?”

“I pulled the ring out of my ski jacket — which I never thought I’d do,” Stasia says. “It was so perfect — so intimate,” Carrie chimes in. “Even though we were freezing and had so many layers on. It wasn’t elegant like in the movies, but it was perfect for us.”

All the elegance was saved for their wedding day, an outdoor affair on Cape Cod. “It was surreal,” Carrie says. “There was a light breeze, the sun was just glowing, and the sky was blue with a touch of cloud. We were lucky.”

(Clockwise from left) Delicate, mismatched teacups were rented from New England Vintage.
Carrie and Stasia gave each other personalized pillows as wedding gifts.
To keep guests hydrated, the couple served some of their favorite beverages, such as Snapple iced tea and Swiss Farm lemonade.

The cake was a combination of red velvet, vanilla, or chocolate with strawberry, cream cheese, or chocolate-ganache filling — all under vanilla buttercream frosting.

Dinner at the rustic-chic reception included a green salad with cherry tomatoes, feta, and citrus-shallot vinaigrette.

In protest of cookie-cutter bridesmaid gowns, Carrie and Stasia let their attendants choose their own.

(From left) “It was important to both of us that we have rings that are socially responsible,” Carrie says. Hers is from Chicago’s Leber Jewelers, and Stasia’s is from online retailer Brilliant Earth.
Pies from Cape Cod’s Cottage Street Bakery added a sweet seasonal touch.

The File: Gowns, David’s Bridal and Galina, both from the Brides Against Breast Cancer Sale; hair, Kris Pavao, Just Hair; makeup, Kelly O’Keefe, Blush; tent, Party Cape Cod; flowers, Petalena; planner, Desiree Spinner Events; music/entertainment, Plaid Daddy; catering, Cosmos Catering; pies, Cottage Street Bakery; cake, Artisan Bake Shop

Want more? Check out all of our featured Real New England Weddings for this season.