Bummer

Blergbot

So we are getting married in California in FSIL's back yard. It's a really lovely back yard and usually looks great. However, they are in the middle of a horrible drought and it is to the point where is is illegal to water your lawn. They have a rain barrel system, but it hasn't rained since March. The grass is starting to die. We aren't getting married until October, so by then it's likely going to be completely brown.

I know the drought is probably more devastating for a lot of other people, but it's disappointing. We talked about sod, but apparently last time they tried that the raccoons came and rolled up what they had laid down during the night. I have no idea how much sod even costs...I think we're just going to have to have our wedding on brown grass.

mrsmorales2be

I worried about the same thing, because we won't be able to do our engagement photos until the week before our wedding (!) and that will be in Dec! Anything green will be long gone by then!I know it's disappointing, because it's not your ideal, but in the grand scheme of things, will the grass really matter?  You're going to have a lovely wedding regardless.  It'll be ok!   

KytchynWitche

That IS a bummer, but don't dwell on it. I promise you, none of your guests are going to care whether the grass is green or brown, or even purple for that matter, because they'll be focusing on how lovely you and your FI are. And in a year, or ten, or twenty, you won't remember that the grass was brown either, because you'll be remembering the way FI looked at you, how happy you were in the moment.

It will be okay.

JCbride2015

Yeah, I know that's a bummer.  Brown grass is no fun.  But think about it this way: you'll have people and things all over that grass, right?  Chairs, maybe an aisle runner, tables, people walking around and maybe dancing.  It's like a beautiful venue with an ugly carpet.  Brides might obsess about the carpet not matching their color scheme, but on the day of, nobody even notices the floor because they are having too much fun!

AddieCake

I'd be bummed, too. Our original venue was going to have that problem as well, so I can definitely understand where you're coming from. 

jnrsgirl

That is a bit of a bummer, but guests will likely be too busy watching you to remember the grass color.

LadyMillil

I got married in April. I was hoping for it to be a lovely spring day with green grass, tulips and daffodils out, and new leaves coming in on the trees. It was a long winter and there was snow on the ground up until 3 days before the wedding. There was nothing we could do about this for the ceremony, but the day before the wedding we went to local parks to find some photo spots where you wouldn't notice everything was brown. It sucks when the weather doesn't cooperate.

buttercup1958

Gosh why aren't you demanding your friends and family spray paint the grass?!?!
(sarcasm) But I actually saw a bride on BrideZillas do that once. She made her bridesmaids spray pain the grass at the park she was getting married at. 

JennyColada

We are watering our lawn just fine. ???

Generally they just set limits to when/how often you can water. So things can still be green.

AzAnnie

What about fake grass?

doeydo

I don't have any recommendations for 'fixing' it, but if it is brown on your wedding day I am sure your wedding will still be beautiful.  I tried to find some pictures of weddings with not-so-green grass:

.

Blergbot

JennyColada said:

We are watering our lawn just fine. ??? Generally they just set limits to when/how often you can water. So things can still be green.

Right now there are just limits in place, but according to FSIL those limits are about to go to no watering at all. You're in SoCal, right? This is in Santa Barbara, so maybe it's worse there or maybe they just have more restrictions. Right now it looks like they've enacted Stage 2. I guess they can use drip irrogation at night, but I think they only have that installed for the garden and not the whole lawn.

lc07

We have permanent water usage restrictions in San Diego that (I think) are more restrictive than other parts of the country. Not everyone follows them of course. But we're still allowed to water our lawns in the early morning and evening.

It's a bummer but I agree with the PPs that in the big scheme of things it won't bug you. I wouldn't bother with sod. I'd go with whatever happens. Your wedding will be amazing, regardless.

Blergbot

I think FSIL is trying to give us the worst case scenario, so we probably won't know for awhile. I hadn't really consiered an aisle runner before, but I seriosly am now? Thanks all

Edit: typos

Rebl90

I'm a CA girl also, and every lawn I've passed today (I drove through quite a handful of cities) is just as green as ever. It's not illegal to water your lawn in CA and the restrictions are not quite so drastic, it sounds like your FSIL is being quite over dramatic.