Clare and Steve’s DIY picnic wedding

An idyllic English summer’s day provided the perfect backdrop to Clare King and Steve Prosser’s DIY picnic wedding.

The Dorset couple hosted their big day at Sopley Mill in Bournemouth on August 8, 2015 with 100 guests.

“Sopley Mill… has the most beautiful views across the Avon River and water meadows which was the perfect backdrop to our relaxed and laid-back wedding day with a picnic lunch, lawn games and Pimms,” Clare, 30, says.

Clare and Steve, 33, spent plenty of time before the celebrations to create the DIY day of their dreams.

“We had bunting, fairylights, scrabble (tiles were attached to our bouquets, buttonholes and corsages), I made our cake topper (just married out of string and scrabble tiles) and I made scrabble bunting saying bride and groom for the top table,” Clare says.

Tables were named after New York landmarks, paying homage to where Steve popped the question, Clare also made flowers out of Harry Potter book pages.

Outdoors, checked blankets and haybales provided the perfect place to sit and lawn games included croquet and ring toss.

“It was a day that brought all our friends and family together for which was a truly special and magical celebration and the happiest day of our lives!” Clare says.

Photos courtesy of Samantha Davis Photography.

Clare wore a beaded 1920s-inspired wedding dress. “There was one pale blue sequin on the dress as my something blue,” she says.

Clare’s cute-as-a-button flower girl wore a dress from Marks and Spencer.

Steve and his groomsmen looked dapper in suits from Next Retail.

“The hours of planning, pinning and organizing seemed overwhelming at times but when we look back now, all the attention to detail and painstaking effort was worth it to make our day so perfectly personal to us,” Clare says.

“Two tiers were lemon drizzle – Steve’s favorite and one tier was Victoria sponge – my favorite!” Clare says of their wedding cake.