Our quick journey to Folly Beach started with a less than two-hour flight from Hartford, CT, and a 45-minute Uber ride from Charleston to Folly Beach.
We left the brisk fall of New England for the warm and humid beaches of South Carolina for a wedding.
When asked how we felt coming “all the way” to Folly Beach, there was no way to complain; the weather was beautiful and there were no crowds in October. I was surprised that Folly Beach is popular for spring breakers and bachelorette parties.
My favorite part of being a destination wedding guest is that you experience why the chosen location means so much to the bride and groom. My boyfriend and his friends have vacationed here together, the groom used to live there, and as we walked around the area, they recalled their memories (it seemed like there were plenty of juicy, embarrassing ones too.)
If I were to describe Folly Beach, I’d say it is a classic, residential beach town with a country flair and a unique downtown area.
Contents:
Rehearsal Dinner
We went to Grace & Grit in Mount Pleasant, SC for an intimate rehearsal dinner.
Dinner started with a flight of grits. We tried blueberry, sweet potato casserole, brussel pesto, and pimento cheese – I didn’t even know grits came in so many flavors. My favorite was the blueberry.
I hate to admit when my boyfriend makes a better choice than me, but I enjoyed his entrée – A LOT. He ordered the pork chop and I got the jumbo flounder.
For dessert, I got a creme brulee and he got the key lime pie – both were phenomenal.
Wedding Reception & Ceremony
The wedding was held at the Regatta Inn overlooking the Sunset Cay Marina.
We enjoyed views of the dolphins swimming in the coastal waterways and took polaroids of ourselves for the guest book.
The bride had an iconic moment. Her veil fell off just as she started walking down the aisle, everyone looked around to see who would fix it, but she kept her focus forward, said it doesn’t matter, and proceeded to walk down the aisle.
The reception tent was right next to the ceremony area overlooking the marina. Various hor d’oeuvres were passed around and custom koozie wedding gifts were waiting for us at the bar – the groom is known for loving them.
When the sun went down, the sunset took the show. It was unbelievably pink and orange with views of the boats docked at the marina. The backdrop was perfect for dinner.
As the night progressed, there was dancing, cigars, cornhole, and everyone participated in the sparkler tunnel.
What we did in between Wedding Activities on Folly Beach
The theme of our activities was food, drinks, repeat.
Restaurants and Bars
Lowlife Bar
This was our first stop in Folly Beach! We were the first guests of the day and wandered in to get some fuel after our flight. The food and cocktail menus did not disappoint. The grilled chicken caesar was delicious and the Man Eater cocktail was the perfect combination of vodka, passionfruit, coconut water, lime, and soda water.
Chico Feo
We met up with other wedding guests at Chico Feo. This outdoor Caribbean restaurant had tons of benches and pretty hanging lights. They served tacos and drinks. I tried Sunboy spiked coconut water here – delicious and relatively healthy. Loved it!
Coconut Joe’s
Coconut Joe’s reputation is for having the best piña colada on Folly Beach. They also have a Rooftop Bar that was closed for a wedding. It looked nice and had views of the ocean.
Beach Time
The only thing I didn’t take advantage of was the beach! I didn’t realize how close we were to it until the morning that we were leaving.
Airbnb
Our Airbnb was characteristic of the area; on stilts, with a screened-in porch, and a beautiful stairway entrance.
The house easily fit six people and had plenty of seating and communal spaces.
I received a media request (an audition for actors), so I had to find space to film it and pretend I was in a workout setting.
The only downside of our Airbnb was the location. For the wedding, it was steps away from the Regatta Inn. But, we were far from downtown. It’s easy to feel stuck when you don’t have a car or golf cart, and Ubers are few and far between.
If there was a chance we could catch an Uber, it took about 30 minutes to get to us.
If you’re downtown, everything is walkable. If your Airbnb or hotel is a bit further in the more residential area, I recommend getting a golf cart.
While we waited for our Uber to the airport, I noticed a sign across the street pointing to the public beach. We followed the walkway to the beach. We saw clusters of monarch butterflies, white sands, and glistening waves. That was such a beautiful sight to end our time in Folly Beach.
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