jquery datepicker compare with php variable

[php_begins]

<script type="text/javascript">

$(function() {

  $('#dp_date').datepicker({

      dateFormat: 'm/d/yy', minDate: 1,

      beforeShowDay: $.datepicker.noWeekends

  });

});

</script>

 

I have the following script which gets date in the future and does not show weekends.

 

I need to modify the above code as follows:

 

I have one more date stored in the php variable $ef_date which is greater than or equal to current date. I want my datepicker to pick only dates that are greater than the $ef_date variable.

 

It can be equal to $ef_date only if $ef_date is greater than today's date. Else it always has to be greater than $ef_date.