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The new year has only just begun and it brought with it millions of newly engaged couples.

It’s safe to say that of those millions, a good handful or two will decide to start their lives together by getting married on Folly Beach.

Some people opt for traditional church weddings or quiet courthouse ceremonies, but others dream about the setting only the beach can provide. These people want to say their vows while waves softly lap at the shore and dolphins dive in and out of the water in the distance and for anyone who’s ever made Folly Beach a part of his or her heart and soul then it’s only natural that those people would want to include the beach on their special day.

Spring and summer are the most popular months for beach weddings, with autumn a close second, and while it seems like those months are far off, now is the time to plan.

Although a beach wedding seems pretty cut and dry in regards to what it means, tell that to all the different brides out there planning one.

Take a look at the two biggest concerns for couples to be:

Location: Getting married on the beach might mean different things to different people. Some might want to be barefoot in the sand and feel the water under their toes. Some might want to get married directly in front of their favorite rental home. Some might want to get married down on the beach by the Morris Lighthouse (we recommend doing it during low tide to maximize the amount of space on the beach for you, your wedding party, and guests; plus, it makes for a beautiful setting).

Some people might decide to get married at the Folly Beach County Park in one of the shelters. The county park offers day rentals or day and night rentals for a fee. Day rentals are $450. All day rentals, which are from 10 am to 11:30 pm are $825. Contact the state park for more information at (843) 795-4386.

Couples might also choose to get married in a church in Charleston and then have their reception in Folly Beach in a rental house or restaurant.

Price: Weddings can cost as little or as much as a couple wants to spend. Couples who want the full enchilada can use the Folly Beach Wedding Guide to hire stylists, wedding planners, caterers, photographers, and just about anything else necessary.

Lodging on Folly is all across the board. The Tides Hotel is the largest hotel on the beach and has affordable rates for just about any budget. In addition, FollyBeach.com offers listings for condos, beach cottages, modest homes, and high-end luxurious rentals with the best of everything. To view rental homes on Folly, click here.

It’s important to book lodging far in advance to ensure that the location of your dreams is available for the big day.

One of the biggest things couples need to remember before getting married is that they will need a marriage license. Licenses can be obtained for $70 from the State of South Carolina. Licenses are available in Charleston as the county courthouse located at 100 Broad Street, suite 469, anytime between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Contact the county courthouse at 843-958-5182 for more information.

There is a waiting period of 24 hours from the date the application is filed before couples can get their license. Also, for anyone out there with a case of puppy love, licenses can only be granted to couples 16 years of age and older. Be sure to bring photo ID to obtain a marriage license.

With all of that information in mind, planning a wedding might seem a little daunting, but FollyBeach.com makes it easy by listing all of the people, places, and businesses that can help make your big day go off without a hitch. Just click here and get started.

Spending Thanksgiving on Folly Beach is a special tradition for a number of families, and this year was no different. Standing barefoot on Folly, especially on a crystal clear day, is of course something to be very thankful for.

If you enjoyed the holiday with us this year or in years past, we would like to hear all about it. How many years have you been giving thanks on Folly? Where do you stay and who joins you? Any special stories or things you are most thankful for?

Not since Hurricane Hugo has the Charleston area community kept such a watchful eye on a storm. But Hurricane Irene is shaping up to pose a threat to not only Folly Beach, but much of the east coast.

Currently, weather predictions state that Irene will veer off to the east and might bypass this area altogether, but anyone on Folly Beach is urged to be prepared as landfall on the east coast is likely to be Friday afternoon or early Saturday. A hurricane watch is in effect for the Charleston area.

Officials with Charleston County and the Emergency Operations Center decided as of Tuesday night that Charleston County would be under an Operating Condition (OPCON) 3. This decision was made hours after officials placed the emergency status at an OPCON 4. The OPCON designation is to alert the public as to the perceived level of threat from a given situation. The lower the number gets, the higher the risk. An OPCON 1 would mean that evacuation has begun and the risk of a disaster is imminent.

Residents and vacationers should prepare now for the storm. This means make a plan and stick to it. Having bottled water, canned goods, flashlights, charged batteries for electronic devices, important documents, and know where friends and family will be going if they evacuate. Also make sure pets have a place to go to get out of the path of the storm.

Consider boarding up windows or getting the materials necessary for boarding up windows should it become necessary. Also take in anything outside like plants and porch furniture. Even if Hurricane Irene does not make a direct hit, the wind generated by the hurricane has the power to turn virtually anything outside into flying debris and that can cause massive damage to anything in its path. In addition, the rain and storm surge have the potential to cause significant flooding.

If it becomes necessary, the official evacuation plan for Folly Beach requires everyone to travel on SC 171 to US 17. Then take US 17 South to 1-526 E to the reversed lanes (all traffic goes in one direction) of I-26.

Stay tuned to FollyBeach.com for hurricane updates.

Pamela DeWitt has the happiest job in the world. She’s not a chocolate taster or roller coaster tester – she’s a wedding officiant. After living in Maine for 25 years, DeWitt wanted to escape the icy weather. “I wanted to be along the coast and near the water so I chose Charleston,” she said. Her friend got her interested in a career officiating weddings and Charleston Outdoor Ceremonies was born in 1999. “It’s great. It’s one of the happiest things you can do.”

While Pamela officiates weddings all over the Lowcountry, from Edisto beach to Sullivan’s Island and all the Plantations in between, but her favorite destination is Folly Beach. Her absolute favorite spot is at the very end of Folly, near Morris Island. “There are these old trees that form this perfect little arch and I take couples down there all the time. I marry them right there under that little arc and it’s beautiful,” she said. The pictures don’t turn out half bad either.

Pamela strives to make each and every ceremony special and unique for the happy couple. If possible, she’ll meet with them first to find out exactly what they want to incorporate in their ceremony. And she’s done some very interesting things. She’s included the Celtic tradition of wrapping a vine or a cord around the couples’ hands to signify their bond. She’s done a sand ceremony, where the couple pours sand from the site of their nuptials into a vase for safe keeping. She’s even given an Apache blessing, recited a Shakespearean quote and told the story of how the couple met.

She also works to include any special family traditions, children or even pets into the ceremony if the couple desires. Pamela emails with the couple back and forth until they’ve settled on the perfect, personalized ceremony. “It’s just adding that little bit of a personal element into the ceremony that makes it theirs,” she said.

Charleston Outdoor Ceremonies offers four main packages: The Works ($350), Simple Ceremony ($250), Quick Elopement ($150) and Renewal of Vows ($150).

Pamela works with an associate, Lucia Galasso, and is affiliated with Waters Edge, a bed and breakfast on Folly. If you’re interested in her services, you can click here. She’ll take your reservation up to two weeks in advance, but if you’re looking for a spring wedding be warned: she’s already getting bookings for May of next year.

“It’s just the happiest job there is. Being at a wedding ceremony, everybody wants to be there.” Pamela said. “I’ve never done anything that brings more joy.”

Even up north, Folly Beach is on Mary Lu Hodgins’ mind. A resident of western New York, Mary and her family fell in love with the area when her son attended the nearby College of Charleston. Her family began spending time at Folly and quickly came to see why it’s one of the most popular beaches in the country. “When we go down there we spend all of our time on Folly and rarely go into Charleston. We just enjoy the beach and sitting on the porch with the ocean breeze,” she said.

So it’s no wonder Mary wanted to have a permanent tie to Folly. She purchased a beach house built in 1935, renovated it and began renting out in 2005. The house is called “Folly Breeze.” Mary was careful to retain as much of the house’s original charm as possible during renovations. She added a second story but kept the same style floor and wood to maintain the beach cottage feel of the home. Folly Breeze boasts beach access across the street, a wrap-around screened porch with both ocean and river views, a fenced in yard, french doors, updated amenities, ample parking and space for up to 12 people. They’ve even left a “renovations journal” at the house for guests to peruse.

And if you’re looking for an expert tour guide, Mary can help you there as well. She recommends hitting The Lost Dog Cafe and the Folly Beach Crab Shack for a good meal. As far as activities are concerned, there’s more to do than there is time on Folly. Mary and her family spend their South Carolina days kayaking on the river, biking around the island and walking out to the lighthouse – that is, of course, when they’re not laying on the beach. Said Mary, “Folly itself has a laid back attitude and is a residential beach area. It’s a beautiful area with a great proximity to downtown Charleston.”

While there is an abundance of houses for rent in the area, previous guests will all tell you that Folly Breeze is a beach gem. “We’ve rented often at Folly Beach and you’re home by far was our best experience ever,” said Joyce T.

Jeanne C. gushed, “We loved the comfortable, updated accommodations of your beautiful, historic beach home.”

And Esther and Larry, who rented the house for their daughter’s wedding, couldn’t have been happier. “You are to be commended for making Folly Breeze about as perfect as it gets,” they said.

Interested in bunking at Folly Breeze? You check out Folly Breeze here for availability and rates. Mary is already taking reservations for next summer, but she takes bookings right up until the day you arrive, if available. Email Mary at marylu@hodginsengraving.com.

I’m describing something salt marsh-ubiquitous. You’ve likely smelled it and maybe even stepped in it. Some have even smeared it on their face and body. If you’ve done these things, you’re allowed to call yourself a pluff-mudder. Oysters grow on it and spartina grows in it. Fiddler crabs stir it up. This stuff can suck the boots right off your feet.

I say pluff. Others say plough. So…what’s it made of? -Fine sands, silts, clays, and organics. Sands, silts, and clays come from weathered and eroded mountains. As you can imagine, this process takes a while. Sands, silts, and clays (sediments), over vast stretches of time, make their way to the coast. Once at the coast, waves, wind, and water currents sort these sediments. The finer particles (what we call mud) settle in the quiet, low energy area behind the barrier islands (a.k.a. the “back barrier”). Periodic tides regularly nourish the back barrier salt marsh with new mud. Once the mud accumulates to at least average high tide elevation, spartina alterniflora (marsh grass) grows on it.

Any casual observer on my Salt Marsh Adventure recognizes many forms of life within the back barrier. Several species of crabs, mollusks, echinoderms, mammals, fish, and birds live here. Guess what else they do here? Mhmmm…so this accounts for some of the organic fraction of our pluff mud. Think about this next time you eat a muddy oyster. Proper oyster roast hosts make great efforts to wash all the mud off the oysters.

I’ve gotten the question, “can I walk on that mud?” From my own experience, I explain what happens if attempted. “You’ll sink to your calves, then you’ll struggle to move, then sink to your knees and maybe your thighs.” Lots of un-matched boots now live in the marsh. In the winter during oyster season, pluff-mudding becomes a necessity. Wear tight-fitting boots.

If you’re a pluff-mudder and wish to tell the world, become a facebook fan of  TIDELINE TOURS and send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Captain Anton, c/o-pluffmudder, PO Box 442, Folly Beach, SC, 29439 and I’ll send you your proclamation sticker.

Captain Anton DuMars, a coastal geologist and 30-year Folly Beach resident, owns and operates Tideline Tours, LLC. To contact Anton, please call or text 843-813-2497 or visit http://tidelinetours.com.

A lot more than swimming and catching a tan can happen at Folly Beach. On any given day, you might see a young couple on their first family vacation with a new baby or a local high school senior contemplating his future. You might even see a couple exchanging vows. In fact, Folly Beach is one of the most popular special occasion spots in the southeast, and Julia DuMars is grateful.

DuMars is a local photographer and the owner of Folly Photos. She specializes in beach photography and has done everything from weddings to senior portraits to baby’s first photo session. “It’s all about the beach,” she said.

Also a CPA, DuMars was always a photographer at heart. It began as a hobby and she would take pictures of friends and family. But about five years ago, her hobby became a thriving career. “When I moved out to Folly my husband encouraged me to go for it, so I started this little business,” she said. Now she still does some tax work, photographs landscapes and has sold some art, but she focuses mainly on her passion for portraiture.

DuMars truly loves going to work every day to capture these special moments. “It’s not even like a job because the people are happy and it’s beautiful,” she said.

But if you’re planning to have some pictures taken on Folly, there are a few things DuMars says to consider. It’s best to take pictures on the beach early in the morning or late in the day. Otherwise, the heat can make you sweaty and the sun can create unflattering shadows. When deciding what to wear, choose something that shows your personality – groups don’t always have to be matchy-matchy. DuMars always has babies dress up and seniors bring things along that reflect who they are.

In the end, it’s about capturing a special time. DuMars’ favorite events are early morning weddings and sunset weddings. “I love the smiles and the beauty of being out in nature. The people are happy. They’re on vacation, they’re getting married, they’re playing. The energy is great.”

You can contact DuMars at julia@follyphotos.com. Also be sure to check out the Folly Photos Facebook page.

Would you like to book a great portrait session with Folly Photos? CLICK HERE

A day at the beach isn’t always, well, a day at the beach. If you find yourself sitting in the wrong section of sand – say, next to rowdy guys tossing a frisbee that somehow keeps hitting you in the face – your whole day could be ruined. Luckily, you can avoid that problem at Folly. We’ve put together a cheat sheet that will help you find your perfect spot on the beach!

If you want to relax and read:
If you’re looking for a relaxing day with a little bit of reading, tanning and swimming thrown in, you’ll want to set up next to “the wall.” Turn right at the end of Center Street and drive about a half mile. You’ll see an entrance to the beach with a little staircase. Park on the side of the road for free. When you get onto the beach, you’ll see a little stone wall to your left. The wall acts as a border between the most crowded section of the beach and an area that’s slightly more relaxed. You won’t feel secluded there by any means, but the wall will block some of the noise and the breeze on a windy day.

If you want to play sports and drink beers:
If you’re at the beach to socialize, drink and play volleyball or frisbee, you’ll want to set up to the right of the pier, in front of Blu, the always crowded beach bar. There’s always plenty of twenty-somethings in this area, and plenty of hot beach bodies to stare at.

If you want to bring the kids:
There are definitely families sprinkled all over the beach, but the best place to play with your kids is on the the left side of the pier. The drinkers are mostly over in front of the bar so this is the perfect spot to stay clear of rowdy frat boys. Plus, the bathrooms are still close by.

If you want to catch a wave:
The Washout has been called the best place to surf in the state. To get there, turn left at the end of Center Street and drive until there are no more houses around. Parking is on the side of the road, but you still have to pay. It’s all surfers at this spot, so you’ll be in good company.

If you want to have some privacy:
If you don’t like crowds, stay away from the middle of the beach by Blu and the Tides Hotel. Instead, take a right at the end of Center Street and drive until just before you hit Folly Beach County Park. This end of the beach always has far fewer people on it and the surfers are down on the other end.

If you want to enjoy the view:
There is a lovely portion of the beach with a view of the Morris Island lighthouse. It’s a little secluded area that never seems to be too crowded, despite its quaint feel. Turn left at the end of Center Street and drive until you can’t go any farther. Park, get out of the car and walk up the path to the beach. The beautiful inlet has big rocks, a wooded area and, of course, an amazing view.

Do you have a favorite hangout spot on Folly? Maybe it’s so good you don’t want to share, but if you do, leave us a comment below!

Folly Beach always has some kind of fun event going on, and the annual Wahine Classic is always one of the best. The all-girl surf contest is a two-day event featuring 16 different competitions, such as longboard, shortboard and tandem. This year, about 85 girls showed up from Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, as well local areas. Local favorites include Jenny Brown, Veronica Bolus and Kristen Tanner, who always take the majority of events.

But the Wahine Classic isn’t only fun for the surfers. About 200 spectators lined The Washout – the strip of beach on the east side of Folly with the best waves in Charleston – to watch the fun. People came with their kids, coolers and surfboards of their own the check out all the action. Even with the stifling heat close to 100 degrees, everyone was having a great time. Vendors, such as surfboard shops, set up brightly colored tents and each event was announced so everyone could easily follow the action.

There were five local judges, all surfers themselves who compete in events held by the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA). In the quarter and semi-finals, the girls have 15 minutes to catch up to 10 waves. In the finals, they have20 minutes to catch up to 12 waves. The judges score them on their two best waves and look for things such as good wave selection. At 4pm on Sunday, the girls were rewarded with surfboard charms to wear around their next. Each girl received a charm, in keeping with the just-for-fun theme of the event. Yes, it was a competition, but the Wahine Classic stresses making new friends over all else.

Case in point: Right before the awards were given, parents brought their kids into the ocean for the Push N’ Surf event. It introduces the kids to surfing and is fun for both boys and girls. This event isn’t judged – it’s purely for fun.

So next year, head down to Folly for the Wahine Classic. Can’t wait that long? Take your beach blanket down to The Washout to watch surfers take to the waves.

If fishing is your thing, the Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Pier is the place to go. The pier is Charleston’s most popular spot for hauling in a big catch with a cooler of cold drinks by your side. Not only that, but the atmosphere can’t be beat. Standing 23 feet above sea level, the pier offers a spectacular view of the surrounding beach. When you’re not staring deep into the ocean water, you can catch a volleyball game being played nearby or check out the hot beach bodies lying on the sand.

Locals especially enjoy the many fishing tournaments on the pier throughout the summer. This year, things got started on May 21 with the Summer Pier Kickoff Tournament. And last Saturday, I stopped by the second Pier Fishing Tournament of the season to check things out for myself.

The day started early at 6am when parents and kids took to the pier. The timing was perfect; with Father’s Day coming up on Sunday, it was the perfect day for a little quality fishing time with good ol’ Dad. The pier was lined with people, mostly young kids enjoying the day with one or both parents. There was a lot of smiling and laughing, along with a few frustrated words when a catch turned out to be not so great. But it was clear that everyone was having a great time, despite the blazing sun.

When 4pm finally rolled around and everyone looked thoroughly exhausted, the awards ceremony began. Prizes were given for the largest King Mackerel catch and the three biggest catches. There are still two of these tournaments to come, on July 23 and September 17, and contestants will be judged in the same categories. The Big Kahuna Fishing Tournament, on August 20, will offer prizes for Adult Angler, Lady Angler, Youth Angler, Senior Angler, total weight of five fish and King Mackerel. The stakes are higher too; you can compete to win a boat, motor and trailer with a state record catch of Whiting, Spot or Croaker. Think you have what it takes?

Rental equipment is available if you need it, and each contestant can fish with up to two rods at once. For Charleston County residents, the cost to enter is $9 for adults and $7 for youth 12 and under. For non-residents, it costs adults and extra $3. For more info, call the pier at 843-588-3474 or visit the website.

And if you’re not a fishing a-fish-ianado, take a walk on the pier, which stretches 1,045 feet into the ocean, and see if you can spot someone hauling in the catch of the day!