A few weeks ago Anna and I took the afternoon off to have our engagement photos taken. It was around 2 hours of smiling, kissing and wardrobe changes...our typical Friday afternoon. We went down to downtown Durham in our bullet proof car (only kidding) and met Rachel Garrison, who will also be doing our wedding photos. She was nice enough to include pictures of us on her blog. Click here to take a sneak peak at some of our professional pics!!
Now Anna and I know how it feels to be famous, it's hard work.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wedding March Madness
It's here, my favorite time of year. When I take off Thursday and Friday to watch hours upon hours of commercials in between college basketball's greatest showcase: The NCAA Tournament.
You may be asking yourself: What the hell does this have to do with the wedding?
Many of you know that my only requirement for a wedding date was that it didn't fall within basketball season. It seemed like a smart idea at the time, but now I'm realizing that maybe it was plain stupid. Because now, wedding planning is during basketball season and that's going to really cramp my style.
For instance, tomorrow, we have wedding tasting from Noon until 2 corresponding exactly with the 2nd day of the 1st round of the NCAA tourney. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm psyched to be doing the tasting but what if Duke were playing at noon tomorrow? What would I have done then? Seriously, that would have been a big deal and I fear that Anna would not have been happy with my decision.
Luckily, we avoided that catastrophe, but I have to be realist: March Madness is full of surprises and somewhere down the line, my basketball life and wedding planning life will have a head on collision.
Until then...Go To Hell Carolina.
You may be asking yourself: What the hell does this have to do with the wedding?
Many of you know that my only requirement for a wedding date was that it didn't fall within basketball season. It seemed like a smart idea at the time, but now I'm realizing that maybe it was plain stupid. Because now, wedding planning is during basketball season and that's going to really cramp my style.
For instance, tomorrow, we have wedding tasting from Noon until 2 corresponding exactly with the 2nd day of the 1st round of the NCAA tourney. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm psyched to be doing the tasting but what if Duke were playing at noon tomorrow? What would I have done then? Seriously, that would have been a big deal and I fear that Anna would not have been happy with my decision.
Luckily, we avoided that catastrophe, but I have to be realist: March Madness is full of surprises and somewhere down the line, my basketball life and wedding planning life will have a head on collision.
Until then...Go To Hell Carolina.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Final Cake Tasting
Let me tell you guys...I'm psyched about our wedding cake. We went to Edible Art on Saturday morning to finalize what kind of cake we wanted for the reception. There was something about the cake that I loved, but I couldn't figure it out. Turns out, all of their cakes are actually pound cake recipes, which make them dense and flavorful.
I'm not going to tell you the different flavors we picked, but I will tell you this: Cake for breakfast is a phenomenal idea and something I plan to do more often. Screw Coffee or Caffeine, a cake sugar high keeps you going until around 1 or 2 pm and then you sleep like a baby.
I'm not going to tell you the different flavors we picked, but I will tell you this: Cake for breakfast is a phenomenal idea and something I plan to do more often. Screw Coffee or Caffeine, a cake sugar high keeps you going until around 1 or 2 pm and then you sleep like a baby.
Invites are out the door...
Finally!!
The invites are gone. Out of here. Finally. Now we just wait for the RSVP's, and then apparently we will have to call all our college friends who don't reply and bug them until they send them in. I'm sure people will leave off their names, how many people are coming, etc. This is going to be a fun 6 weeks.
The invites are gone. Out of here. Finally. Now we just wait for the RSVP's, and then apparently we will have to call all our college friends who don't reply and bug them until they send them in. I'm sure people will leave off their names, how many people are coming, etc. This is going to be a fun 6 weeks.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Groomzilla
Well I had a moment recently and I freaked out a bit on Anna because we haven't sent the invitations out yet. On top of that, Anna decided to order "special" stamps and they aren't going to be here for a few days. So those of you who are concerned about whether or not you got invited to the wedding, don't worry the invites haven't been sent out yet.
I've been pretty laid back with all this wedding planning, but this is my one sticking point. I want the invitations out the door! Maybe it's because once they are out the door there is no looking back. Maybe it's because I want everyone to have ample time to make their travel plans from around the world. Whatever my reasons, we officially had our first wedding argument.
I've been pretty laid back with all this wedding planning, but this is my one sticking point. I want the invitations out the door! Maybe it's because once they are out the door there is no looking back. Maybe it's because I want everyone to have ample time to make their travel plans from around the world. Whatever my reasons, we officially had our first wedding argument.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Wine, wine and more Wine...
This was a big weekend for the Hall/Quarles wedding. MOG, Anne Quarles, flew in on her private Jet (Read: Express Jet) and joined Anna and myself for an array of wedding activities, all of which included a bit of alcohol.
I took Friday off so that I could chauffeur my mother from the airport to the University Club to meet with our rehearsal dinner point of contact. Anna joined us around 20 minutes into the lunch meeting and we all ordered. Of course, the meal was "taken care of" by the University Club, which makes you wonder how much money this whole thing is going to cost. Anyway, I digress. They allowed us to sample 4 of their "house" wines and we didn't come away all that impressed, especially for $30 a bottle. What we did come away with was a great menu for the dinner. What are we going to have? Well, you'll just have to wait and see. I will say this, it's southern.
All that wine at lunch made me a bit sleepy but I stayed strong through the rest of the afternoon. We went out to dinner with Anna, Pika and MOG to Watts Grocery, a newish restaurant in Durham, had more wine, a really good meal and some espresso to keep us up until 2 AM.
Later that night, Bennett, the Best Man, made it in from DC. His main purpose of the trip was the watch Duke beat up on St. Johns. Purposefully, we did not let on as to how much wedding stuff would be happening...
Part 2 later...Will include: wine tasting, and Tuxedo fittings and more wine tasting.
I took Friday off so that I could chauffeur my mother from the airport to the University Club to meet with our rehearsal dinner point of contact. Anna joined us around 20 minutes into the lunch meeting and we all ordered. Of course, the meal was "taken care of" by the University Club, which makes you wonder how much money this whole thing is going to cost. Anyway, I digress. They allowed us to sample 4 of their "house" wines and we didn't come away all that impressed, especially for $30 a bottle. What we did come away with was a great menu for the dinner. What are we going to have? Well, you'll just have to wait and see. I will say this, it's southern.
All that wine at lunch made me a bit sleepy but I stayed strong through the rest of the afternoon. We went out to dinner with Anna, Pika and MOG to Watts Grocery, a newish restaurant in Durham, had more wine, a really good meal and some espresso to keep us up until 2 AM.
Later that night, Bennett, the Best Man, made it in from DC. His main purpose of the trip was the watch Duke beat up on St. Johns. Purposefully, we did not let on as to how much wedding stuff would be happening...
Part 2 later...Will include: wine tasting, and Tuxedo fittings and more wine tasting.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuxedo's!!
I'll just come out and say it: I don't want to wear a tuxedo that matches what the bridesmaids wear. I just don't. I think it looks (no offense to those of you have done this in your own wedding), well, corny. So I think I'll just make my groomsmen do it. They can be corny. I am corny enough in my normal life, I don't need to be it on my wedding day as well.
The reason this comes up now is that we're making this important decision this weekend when my parents come into town for the Duke vs NC State game and the Duke vs Miami (Thug U) game.
Thoughts on Tuxes? Dumb and Dumber style? Top hats and Canes?
The reason this comes up now is that we're making this important decision this weekend when my parents come into town for the Duke vs NC State game and the Duke vs Miami (Thug U) game.
Thoughts on Tuxes? Dumb and Dumber style? Top hats and Canes?
Monday, January 7, 2008
Groomsmen- Bennett Lipscomb
Starting at "Best Man" is none other then Bennett Hughes Lipscomb.
Bennett went to Durham Academy and was a classmate of Anna and mine. If I remember correctly we began our friendship during our Senior Challenge in the mountains of North Carolina, where the guys had to take turns carrying the girls over-packed bags, which were probably full of make up and high heels. I'm not sure if Bennett has even seen this picture before, but I'm pretty sure it's the first picture we took together. Is that weird? Some may ask, "Do I even have the first picture Anna and I took together"? The answer to that question is, "I think so". Anyway, I digress...we have to do some "before and after" pictures of Bennett because I swear the kid looked like he was 12 senior year in high school (1998).
Due to his girlfriend's obsession with food, he's also a regular contributor on the food blog Endless Simmer, where he posts "artsy pictures" of food and booze.
I hope that everyone is supportive of Bennett during the wedding because this is his first time being a best man and he's really nervous about giving a toast. Please make sure to heckle and taunt him during the rehearsal dinner.
I will leave you with some Bennett pictures from the past 10 years (please contact for additional pictures that may or may not embarrass Bennett):
Bennett went to Durham Academy and was a classmate of Anna and mine. If I remember correctly we began our friendship during our Senior Challenge in the mountains of North Carolina, where the guys had to take turns carrying the girls over-packed bags, which were probably full of make up and high heels. I'm not sure if Bennett has even seen this picture before, but I'm pretty sure it's the first picture we took together. Is that weird? Some may ask, "Do I even have the first picture Anna and I took together"? The answer to that question is, "I think so". Anyway, I digress...we have to do some "before and after" pictures of Bennett because I swear the kid looked like he was 12 senior year in high school (1998).
Bennett currently lives in Washington, DC but because of his obsession with Duke athletics (much like my obsession with Duke athletics but with a tad bit more crazy involved), he spends around 10 weekends a year down in Durham drinking his way through Duke football games and being kind enough to take the extra basketball tickets which my parents are so kind of give.
Due to his girlfriend's obsession with food, he's also a regular contributor on the food blog Endless Simmer, where he posts "artsy pictures" of food and booze.
I hope that everyone is supportive of Bennett during the wedding because this is his first time being a best man and he's really nervous about giving a toast. Please make sure to heckle and taunt him during the rehearsal dinner.
I will leave you with some Bennett pictures from the past 10 years (please contact for additional pictures that may or may not embarrass Bennett):
Bennett and I on Senior Challenge in 1997. I haven't grown much since then, but I'm pretty sure Bennett was around 5'8" at that point in his life. He now stands 6 feet or so.
Bennett and our high school buddy Jason Ko the summer after we graduated, 2002. Note the transformation from 5 years prior, but he still looks like he's in HS. Also, note the sheer quantity of empty beer bottles on the table.
And to cap it all off, this is Bennett at a Duke-Florida State football game in the fall of 2005. As you can see, the tough streets of Washington DC have put a few years on Mr. Lipscomb's 25 year old face.
Bennett and our high school buddy Jason Ko the summer after we graduated, 2002. Note the transformation from 5 years prior, but he still looks like he's in HS. Also, note the sheer quantity of empty beer bottles on the table. 
And to cap it all off, this is Bennett at a Duke-Florida State football game in the fall of 2005. As you can see, the tough streets of Washington DC have put a few years on Mr. Lipscomb's 25 year old face. Sunday, January 6, 2008
Cravin' Melon Reunion Concert!
For those of you who may not know me all that well, my favorite band in the world is Cravin' Melon. Unfortunately, back in 2001, they decided to call it quits. I think a little piece of me died when they decided to break up. Anyway, I'm continued to check up on their website called the Melon Patch, and much to my surprise I saw a post about them having a concert at Lincoln Theater in Raleigh! As I told Anna, this is the most exciting day of my life (until I get married of course)...For those of you in the area (and anyone who wants to make the trip to see me sing at the top of my lungs for 3 hours) mark March 29th on your calendar and get ready for the best concert of your life!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Groomsmen- Scott Quarles
Starting at "Best Brother" is Scott Quarles.
Some may remember him curly haired Darryl lookalike. Well, not much has changed except he's now a 6'2", 185 lb, 21 year old junior in college who has his own apartment in Birmingham, Alabama. I'm ecstatic to have him as part of our wedding party. Over the last few years we've gone to Paris and Amsterdam together, been to a Duke @ Alabama football game (pictured below), and been to NYC a few times for Duke basketball games. I can still beat him up, which is refreshing but he's certainly not as gullible as he used to be (ask him to tell you the story about how Leigh and I convinced him that we were all aliens and we had abducted him). Here are a few pictures from the past few years. Sorry I don't have any from when he was a kid but the digital camera age really didn't hit the Quarles household until 2004.
He cleans up nice doesn't he? This was taken in the Spring of 2004 at our Cousin Emily's Wedding.
Some may remember him curly haired Darryl lookalike. Well, not much has changed except he's now a 6'2", 185 lb, 21 year old junior in college who has his own apartment in Birmingham, Alabama. I'm ecstatic to have him as part of our wedding party. Over the last few years we've gone to Paris and Amsterdam together, been to a Duke @ Alabama football game (pictured below), and been to NYC a few times for Duke basketball games. I can still beat him up, which is refreshing but he's certainly not as gullible as he used to be (ask him to tell you the story about how Leigh and I convinced him that we were all aliens and we had abducted him). Here are a few pictures from the past few years. Sorry I don't have any from when he was a kid but the digital camera age really didn't hit the Quarles household until 2004.
He cleans up nice doesn't he? This was taken in the Spring of 2004 at our Cousin Emily's Wedding.
Scott and I in Tuscaloosa, Alabama watching
Duke's football team fall apart in the 2nd
half of a surprisingly exciting football game in 2006.
Needless to say, we had good seats at the Duke-Gonzaga game in December of 2006.
Duke's football team fall apart in the 2nd
half of a surprisingly exciting football game in 2006.
Needless to say, we had good seats at the Duke-Gonzaga game in December of 2006. Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Groomsmen- An Introduction
Over the next few weeks I am going to give a rundown of my groomsmen, how I know them and maybe a story or two about them. My goal: so that everyone who reads this blog knows my buddies as well as I do. Piece of cake.
In the meantime, you can check out our website for the rundown of groomsmen and bridesmaids.
In the meantime, you can check out our website for the rundown of groomsmen and bridesmaids.
Wedding Rings for guys
I'm freaked out that I'm going to lose my wedding ring. There I said it. Anna says that doesn't actually make her mad. What makes her MAD is that I lose things that are important to me ALL THE TIME (or drop them in the toilet by accident).
Ipod- dropped in toilet
Swiss army watch- left in a bag that we gave to goodwill (luckily Anna saw it before giving it away). I had misplaced it for 4 months.
New Ipod- lost for a week, found under the seat of my car.
Maybe we should be looking at the positives of the above...I, or someone else, has always found what I've lost.
So as we begin this search for the male ring, I've been instant that we don't buy an expensive one. I understand that the ring is a symbol of our love and our marriage and I shouldn't lose it. I do understand that. But let's be realistic here: I am 27 years old and have never been good at keeping up with things. I've never worn a ring for more then a week (when rings were cool for guys back in the late 90's...at least I thought they were cool).
So I don't want to buy a $500 ring. I want to by a $50 ring. This pisses my mom off. This pisses my sister off. My brother just laughs and shakes his head at me.
I'm not trying to offend them women out there, although I know I am good at that. I just want them to be realistic, and maybe that's too much to ask?
Ipod- dropped in toilet
Swiss army watch- left in a bag that we gave to goodwill (luckily Anna saw it before giving it away). I had misplaced it for 4 months.
New Ipod- lost for a week, found under the seat of my car.
Maybe we should be looking at the positives of the above...I, or someone else, has always found what I've lost.
So as we begin this search for the male ring, I've been instant that we don't buy an expensive one. I understand that the ring is a symbol of our love and our marriage and I shouldn't lose it. I do understand that. But let's be realistic here: I am 27 years old and have never been good at keeping up with things. I've never worn a ring for more then a week (when rings were cool for guys back in the late 90's...at least I thought they were cool).
So I don't want to buy a $500 ring. I want to by a $50 ring. This pisses my mom off. This pisses my sister off. My brother just laughs and shakes his head at me.
I'm not trying to offend them women out there, although I know I am good at that. I just want them to be realistic, and maybe that's too much to ask?
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Off to the Big Apple
Anna and I will be meeting my parents and my brother in New York City tonight for an early Quarles Christmas. We'll be at Madison Square Garden watching the Duke Blue Devils take on the Pittsburgh Panthers Thursday night. We're also heading to The Comedy Cellar late Thursday night to see Dave Attell (hopefully) and others. This will be Anna's first NYC comedy club experience, we'll try to get pictures.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Engagement Party
Over Thanksgiving weekend, a group of my parent's friends threw us a Pig Pickin' in Durham and it was more then we could have asked for. We had a great mix of people and had tons of fun eating a pig and drinking some good local beer called Red Oak. 
Anna and I also received tons of unexpected gifts, which is never a bad thing. Just look at the surprise on Anna's face!!!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Check your Mail!!!
Save the dates have been mailed out, so start checking your mail daily to see if you made the cut.
Seriously, though, if you don't get them in a few days, definitely let us know.
Seriously, though, if you don't get them in a few days, definitely let us know.
Monday, November 5, 2007
November Wedding Happenings
Holy Crap, I haven't posted on this thing in forever. Since my last post, here's what's been going on (get ready, a lot has gone on).
1. Anna has a new job working in Butner, NC in the adolescent unit of John Umstead Hospital. She started today.
2. I started a new job, still at Eurosport, but now as a Regional Manager. I now manage people, not soccer club business. Totally different.
3. We received our "Save the Dates" and now need to mail them out.
4. We visited my parents out in Kansas City and drove my brothers car 17 hours back to Durham, because...
5. Anna's car was in the shop for 3 weeks due to an "Oil sludge" issue. I wouldn't recommend bringing up this incident with Anna unless you really want to get on her bad side.
6. Anna had her first ever alcoholic drink on an airplane!
7. Duke football is now 1-8 and I'm offically asking for Ted Roof to be fired. So much so that I'm thinking of buying www.firetedroof.com. It's only $50.00 and I think it's worth it.
8. We had our 2nd cake tasting, this time at Edible Art in Raleigh. The cake was amazing and we're definitely going with them.
9. I ate Fois Gras for the 1st time (and liked it).
10. I ate Scallops for the 2nd time (and liked it).
11. I ate Elk for the first time (and liked it a lot).
12. We drove back from Kansas City with 48 beers and 6 bottles of wine. My cousin Sara called us modern day bootleggers.
1. Anna has a new job working in Butner, NC in the adolescent unit of John Umstead Hospital. She started today.
2. I started a new job, still at Eurosport, but now as a Regional Manager. I now manage people, not soccer club business. Totally different.
3. We received our "Save the Dates" and now need to mail them out.
4. We visited my parents out in Kansas City and drove my brothers car 17 hours back to Durham, because...
5. Anna's car was in the shop for 3 weeks due to an "Oil sludge" issue. I wouldn't recommend bringing up this incident with Anna unless you really want to get on her bad side.
6. Anna had her first ever alcoholic drink on an airplane!
7. Duke football is now 1-8 and I'm offically asking for Ted Roof to be fired. So much so that I'm thinking of buying www.firetedroof.com. It's only $50.00 and I think it's worth it.
8. We had our 2nd cake tasting, this time at Edible Art in Raleigh. The cake was amazing and we're definitely going with them.
9. I ate Fois Gras for the 1st time (and liked it).
10. I ate Scallops for the 2nd time (and liked it).
11. I ate Elk for the first time (and liked it a lot).
12. We drove back from Kansas City with 48 beers and 6 bottles of wine. My cousin Sara called us modern day bootleggers.
Friday, October 19, 2007
This Just In...Bridesmaids have been announced
Anna has notified and posted beautiful pictures of all her bridesmaids on our Official Wedding Website.
For those of you anxiously awaiting the groomsmen, that list should be up shortly.
I was thinking about announcing like they announce the NCAA tourney...Not actually telling the guys first and having them check back day after day seeing if some embarrassing picture had been posted on the blog or the site, but Anna said that would be pretty inappropriate. So I'll tell them first and then post it. Not exactly as much fun, but what can you do?
For those of you anxiously awaiting the groomsmen, that list should be up shortly.
I was thinking about announcing like they announce the NCAA tourney...Not actually telling the guys first and having them check back day after day seeing if some embarrassing picture had been posted on the blog or the site, but Anna said that would be pretty inappropriate. So I'll tell them first and then post it. Not exactly as much fun, but what can you do?
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Ming Blue (Johnson Hyundai Commercial)
They've released another batch of Badger car commercials and although I don't think they are as funny as the Wiggle Room one, they are still really creative. Check out Grady's ears (yes the badger has a name) when he is trying to say the word "ming". Hilarious.
On a side note, one of my loyal readers brought to my attention that when you google "badger wiggle room", my blog comes up #1 ahead of youtube! My blog is going world-wide.
If you haven't seen these commercials yet, I implore you to click on this link and enjoy...
Then come back and tell us what Badger commercial is your favorite.
Oh, and I'm going to be a badger for Halloween so don't think of stealing my idea.
Monday, October 8, 2007
$234.85...
Several weekends ago I cam home from a weekend up in Washington DC to find the below receipt on my bedside table (You can click on the picture to make it larger).
For those of you two lazy to click on the picture, I can summarize what items are on this receipt in one hyphenated word: MAKE-UP!!!! That's it! two-hundred and thirty-five dollars and eighty-five cents of MAKE-UP!!!
I'm not angry. Really I'm not, but I was trying to think back on something I spent $234.85 on...My "man purchase" of a flat-screen television definitely cost more then that, but that was more a purchase for everyone. I even bought a suit recently, but that didn't even cost $234.85 (It was a $600 suit that I got for under $200 thank you very much).
Am I overreacting here? Do women really spend $200-plus dollars on make up?
For those of you two lazy to click on the picture, I can summarize what items are on this receipt in one hyphenated word: MAKE-UP!!!! That's it! two-hundred and thirty-five dollars and eighty-five cents of MAKE-UP!!! I'm not angry. Really I'm not, but I was trying to think back on something I spent $234.85 on...My "man purchase" of a flat-screen television definitely cost more then that, but that was more a purchase for everyone. I even bought a suit recently, but that didn't even cost $234.85 (It was a $600 suit that I got for under $200 thank you very much).
Am I overreacting here? Do women really spend $200-plus dollars on make up?
Friday, September 28, 2007
Wedding Rule #1
Neither Anna nor I are as active as we want to be, but both of us do play in separate soccer leagues during the fall and spring. For those of you who don't like, play or watch soccer, it's more of a "contact" sport then it gets credit for in mainstream American media...and because of this after a game, you can really come out bruised and broken.
(Those of you who have played soccer with Anna probably know where this is going).
Anna bruises like a freakin' peach and because of this we have implemented:
WEDDING RULE #1
Soccer will not be played for 1 month leading up to the wedding to avoid bruises on the arms legs and face.
The face part was added to the rule today because of a little elbow I took while playing on Thursday night. The bruise is really coming in nicely 36 hours after the incident. If it gets any worse, I'll definitely update the picture, but I wanted to capture proof of my semi black eye. Could you imagine if Anna or I had a freakin' black eye on our wedding day?!? Our mothers wouldn't be crying tears of joy, that's for sure.
I'm really hoping the black eye becomes more pronounced.
(Those of you who have played soccer with Anna probably know where this is going).
Anna bruises like a freakin' peach and because of this we have implemented:
WEDDING RULE #1
Soccer will not be played for 1 month leading up to the wedding to avoid bruises on the arms legs and face.
The face part was added to the rule today because of a little elbow I took while playing on Thursday night. The bruise is really coming in nicely 36 hours after the incident. If it gets any worse, I'll definitely update the picture, but I wanted to capture proof of my semi black eye. Could you imagine if Anna or I had a freakin' black eye on our wedding day?!? Our mothers wouldn't be crying tears of joy, that's for sure.
I'm really hoping the black eye becomes more pronounced.
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