Why Choose Folly Beach for Your Wedding and Reception

Planning your wedding can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Let Folly Beach sweep you off your feet with romance, serenity, and class all in one place; the beach can provide every detail from your rehearsal dinner to your bridal suite. Let the ocean air that rolls off the surf welcome you and your guests for an authentic experience on the most important day of you and your partner’s life together. Folly is the perfect place to make and keep your forever promise.

Venue Variety
Folly Beach wedding planners want your day to be perfect, and the island provides many venues to make this happen. If you want to sink your toes into the sand and water during the ceremony, it is already taken care of. The venues also offer temporary flooring for couples who don’t feel like tapping sand out of their shoes and socks on the wedding night.

Stay a While
You might have twenty, or you might have five hundred guests coming to witness your vows, and Folly Beach is ready to welcome them in. Choose from upscale hotels, inns, boutique bed & breakfasts, or even vacation rentals to make sure everyone is happy and well rested for the entirety of the wedding weekend.

Delicious Catering Options
They say the stomach is the surest way to the heart. Sample a variety of caterers that will help your reception stand out. Treat yourself to a seafood banquet provided by the Crab Shack, or call in Rita’s Seaside Grille for Lowcountry classics. Get the bang out of your buck as you watch guests gobble up mouthwatering dishes!

Historic Downtown Charleston
Folly is the perfect location to host your wedding and house your guests. A cool 20 minutes from the heart of historic Charleston, you have easy access to the coastline and the adventure of the city. Visit the market or sample Charleston’s world class dining locals. There is an airport along with a popular cruise ship dock in Charleston, so you and your partner can take off for a spectacular honey moon right after the ceremony.

Carve out your slice of island sunshine for a blissful day of family, friends, and commitment to the one that you love. Folly Beach is here to support you from the moment you send save the dates to the end of the ceremony, sending you and your guests home delighted with an enchanting weekend.

Your Folly Beach Checklist: Things to Consider Before Hitting the Beach

Everyone loves a good beach day at Folly. The sun, sand, and surfers always make for a relaxing time, BUT there are things to remember in order to have the best possible day at Folly Beach. First, you have to have the necessities; sunscreen so you don’t burn in the hot Carolina sun, an umbrella to keep cool, beach towels for when you get out of the waves, beach toys for fun in the sun, and some water to stay hydrated. Don’t forget something to cover-up with as well so you can enjoy some of Folly’s fantastic restaurants and shops.

Second, in order to have a full-proof beach day at Folly, the rules have to be followed. You’ll want to remember your amazing beach day so there cannot be any possession or consumption of alcohol on the beach, if you’re really feeling like a drink (and are of age) head on over to the many great restaurants that Folly has to offer and they can whip up something delicious for you. Along with this, there is no glass, plastic bags, balloons, or styrofoam allowed on the beach, we want to keep our wildlife alive and well and we know you do too. This also means no littering. Speaking of our wonderful wildlife, please leave them alone, especially the sea turtles. Sea turtles are an endangered species and we want to help keep them around.

Your safety is just as important as wildlife’s safety! In order to keep our visitors safe, there are a few rules in place. Swim with caution ALWAYS because this is the ocean and there are rip currents. There are lifeguards on duty from May through Labor Day to help with this. If you surf, which is a popular and fun activity on Folly, you HAVE to have a leash. Surfing is also prohibited from 2nd St East to 3rd St West which is considered the “swimming zone”.

The dunes are what keep our beaches alive! Don’t walk in them, please! We want to keep Folly Beach alive and well for as long as possible for the people to enjoy! On top of this, we love furry friends, but we love them more before 10 am and after 6 pm, which are the allotted times for pups to be on the beach. For their safety and yours, they are never allowed on the pier though.

Lastly, as your day at the beach comes to an end, remember all of your things. After sunset, they will be claimed by the City and disposed of. If you want to stay a little longer, head to Main Street for something to much on and to rehydrate from the sun, as bonfires and fireworks are not allowed at any time. We know they’re fun, but not as fun as keeping everyone safe.

National Margarita Day

Join us on Friday, February 22nd on Folly Beach for National Margarita Day! Whether you are sipping on a Casa at Taco Boy or working on your Farmer Tan at Lowlife Bar – Folly Beach is the place to spend your day sipping, on the rocks or frozen! Considering National Margarita Day as a warm up for Cinco de Mayo, we’ve included a list of some stops you must be sure to sip at on February 22nd.

Taco Boy has an array of delicious drinks to satisfy every margarita lover’s dream. Not only do they have unforgettable food, but their drink selection is just memorable. Their classic Casa Margarita can be served frozen or shaken with Silver tequila, triple sec & house-made sweet & sour mix. But if you’re feeling like mixing it up, their Pineapple-Infused Margarita has a special house concoction of fresh pineapple, cinnamon & vanilla-infused Gold tequila, fresh OJ & house-made sweet & sour mix.

Another Folly feature is Lowlife Bar, new to the scene but making its mark on tasty tequila concoctions. Lowlife Bar’s menu feature a Farmer Tan with tequila, chipotle, strawberry, pineapple & lime juice. Enjoy the outdoor bar and garage door windows, making the most of your Farmer’s Tan while enjoying a Farmer Tan.

The Crab Shack is a great place to spend National Margarita day with their Perfect Patron Margarita. Their cocktail is made is Patron Reposado, Patron Citronge and orange juice mixed with the juice of a lime. The Crab Shack is a great location for family fun or just a night to relax. With their large array of food and unbeatable drinks, The Crab Shack is a great stop for National Margarita Day.

Rita’s Seaside Grille puts the Rita in Margarita! Rita’s offers Classic, Blueberry, Strawberry, Cucumber, Coconut, Agave-Nectar & Jalapeño-Cilantro Margaritas, perfect to please every individual! Not only do they have a large assortment of flavors, but they are also available served frozen. Their tremendous hospitality and service match their great food and drinks available at Rita’s.

A margarita at BLU Restaurant & Bar will leave you feeling anything but blue. This restaurant features a Pomegranate Margarita made with Espolon Silver Tequila, Stirrings Pomegranate, Sour Mix, Triple Sec & Lime Juice that is perfect for a Friday night treat. Along with an unbeatable oceanfront view, BLU has a sophisticated menu to satisfy your needs.

With only a week left, be sure to start making your plans for National Margarita Day on Folly Beach. With an array of margaritas available for tequila lovers, Folly Beach is the place for everyone’s happiest hours.

Monthly Spotlight: Lowlife Bar

Lowlife Bar opened it’s doors to the Folly Beach crowd in July of 2018. With an outdoor bar and garage door windows, the vibe feels open, airy and welcoming. The owners and staff strive not only to satisfy the tourists, but also ensure that the residents of Folly feel like they can call Lowlife their second home.

Lowlife Bar focuses on fresh ingredients and sources them locally whenever possible. The menu of cocktails always includes freshly squeezed juices and high quality spirits. The food at Lowlife is an exciting mixture of laid-back beach fare, such as their tuna poke to tasty southern bar
snacks like pimento cheese and the fried chicken sandwich with old-bay waffle fries. Guests can enjoy Lowlife’s brunch menu 7 days a week and look for nightly specials.

The Lowlife crew is thrilled to be a part of the Folly Beach family and it shows. Throughout the spring and summer season guests can expect to see them host an array of exciting events, such as a local bartender’s competition, Baltimore-style crab feasts and more.

Folly Beach Welcomes Wiki Wiki Sandbar

Taste of Folly 2019

2019 Folly Beach Bloody Mary Competition Winners

The 2019 Folly Beach Bloody Mary Competition results are in! We would like to say thank you to all of those who participated, as it was a tough decision across the board. Stacked with creative ingredients and extraordinary garnishes,this year’s competition was fierce.

With that being said…Here are your 2019 Bloody Mary Competition winners:

Voter’s Choice: Rita’s Seaside Grille
This spicy cocktail got the most votes and was a hit with the Judges as well! Homemade mix + Deep Eddy vodka took this Bloody Mary to the next level. Topped with tomatoes, pepperoncini, and pickle…this Bloody Mary stole the show! Big applaud to Rita’s Seaside Grille for this big win!

Judges Choice: Pier 101
Using Southwest Chipotle seasoning, Achiote Pepper, and a blend of delicious spices, Pier 101’s Spicy Chipotle Bloody Mary won the hearts and taste buds of the judges, securing them the title of Judge’s Choice. Rounding out the beverage with a Ceviche Skewer complete with shrimp, jalapeno and cherry tomato, this Deep Eddy Bloody Mary was a unanimous hit for the contest Judges.

Honorable Mention: Taco Boy
A classic Bloody Mary with a twist! This Deep Eddy Bloody Mary spiced things up with a unique blend of Zing Zang and housemade salsa. Topped with the classics, this Bloody Mary was a delightful mix of old and new. Receiving the second highest amount of popular votes and loved by the judges, it is only right that Taco Boy gets an honorable mention for this terrific concoction.

Best Garnish: Planet Follywood
Topped with a homemade maple ham biscuit, Slim Jim, pepperoncini, maple bacon, pickle, and olives – there’s no way you can go wrong with this Deep Eddy Bloody Mary from Planet Follywood! These over-the-top garnishes and twist on ingredients, landed Planet Follywood the title of Best Garnish.

Thank you again to all of those who participated.

Spend the Follidays on Folly Beach

Check out our list of upcoming events to get you in the Folliday spirit:

CHRISTMAS PARADE
December 8, 2018

Santa parades through the streets of his favorite beach town. During the parade, knock-out some of your holiday shopping at the Arts & Crafts Show at the Folly Beach Community Center. Click here for more information.

NEW YEAR’S EVE FLIP-FLOP DROP
December 31, 2018

Drop a ball on New Year’s Eve? Not on Folly. Gather with fellow revelers on Center Street to watch the giant pair of glittery flip-flops descend to mark the stroke of midnight. Click here for more information.

BILL MURRAY LOOK-A-LIKE POLAR PLUNGE
January 1, 2019

The Annual Polar Bear Plunge pays homage to local resident, Bill Murray. Attendees start the New Year with a plunge into the (barely) cold Atlantic while dresses as their favorite Bill character. Then all head over to center street for a little hair-of-the-dog. Click here for more information.

November Fishing Report

Fall has arrived bringing with it cooler weather and shorter days. But don’t put your rods and reels away just yet because we’re about to experience the best fishing of the year! Fishermen will continue to find success with live bait but artificial lures should become increasingly productive. Make time to get out on the water, you will have a blast!

As water temperatures decline, redfish have begun their annual phenomenon of forming large schools. Schools of fifty redfish are common and the numbers will reach 100-150 in some cases in the depths of Winter. These fish become a little more wary this time of year and artificial lures can spook them. Instead of chasing the schools, we have been setting out as many as three lines with chunks of cut mullet or live mud minnows on Owner #3/0 circle hooks. When schools of redfish swim over your bait get ready for some ferocious strikes!

The water is teeming with shrimp – trout simply cannot get enough of them. Lots of smaller fish can’t get enough of shrimp either. When these bait stealers run rampant, I switch over to DOA 3″ artificial shrimp which I find most effective when fished underneath a popping cork. I like the glow/gold and nite glow colors which look like real shrimp in the water. When fishing a popping cork, it is important to make sure that you reel in any slack line on the water so you are ready when a fish hits.

With the most recent set of very high tides, we probably saw the last true tailing tides of the year. Sight fishermen should turn their attention to chasing the large schools of redfish on the flats. Late morning or midday low tides will be key as the flats will warm up a few degrees and make for active fish. Darker lures are working best although don’t be afraid to throw some brighter lures with lots of flash.

See you on the water!

For a decade, Capt. Geoff Bennett has operated Charleston Charter Fishing providing light tackle charters. Clients choose from a full menu of fishing options with charters tailored to their desires. USCG licensed and insured, Capt. Bennett is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable charter to anglers of all skill levels and ages. For more information, call Capt. Bennett at 843-324-3332, visit his website at www.charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at [email protected].

SUPer Scary SUP Race

The 8th Annual SUPer Scary SUP Race will be held on Saturday, November 3rd, 2018 from 8am -12pm on Center Street! The race is open to beginners and pros alike! Registration begins at 8:00am and the first race kicks off 9:00am. A portion of the proceeds to go support Y2O, a local non-profit that gets kids connected with the ocean and estuary.

For more information, please visit: https://www.charlestonsupsafaris.com/race.html.