NEWLYWEDS - who got engaged in the highest building in the world - celebrated seeing loved ones on their wedding day after two years.

Shannon Lambert, 26, from Warcop, and Joe Raffel, 29, from Penrith, tied the knot on September 25 at the Inn on the Lake Hotel in Glenridding.

The pair first met through mutual friends on a night out in Penrith for a friends' 18th birthday.

Mrs Raffel, who is part of the administration team for British Gypsum in Kirkby Thore, said: "At the time one of Joe’s friends and one of my friends were dating and they put us in contact with each other as they both knew we were single.

"I liked how hard working Joe was and how easy he was to get along with."

"And I liked how outgoing and motivated Shannon was," Mr Raffel, who is a grounds worker and machine operator, said.

The couple got engaged in Dubai in November 2018, on the highest viewing platform in the Burj Khalifa.

Mrs Raffel said: "It was a surprise and I had no idea it was happening,.

"Joe had pre planned it and even got in touch with the Burj Khalifa staff to make sure he was allowed to propose and he managed to get the ring box all the way from Manchester to Dubai and kept it hidden for three days without me knowing.

"I was looking out at the amazing view of Dubai and asked Joe to get the camera out of my backpack I was wearing.

"I turned round to get the camera from him and it took me a moment to realise that Joe was down on one knee with the ring box out."

The couple tied the knot on September 25 at the Inn on the Lake Hotel in Glenridding.

"We were married outside by the gazebo on the hotel grounds overlooking Ullswater Lake," Mrs Raffel said.

"There was 85 guests during the day and 120 for the evening.

"Like so many other couples our wedding date kept getting pushed back with each lockdown. September 2021 was our third date

"Originally the day was booked for May 8 2020, which was the 75thVE anniversary day, and it would have been my late grandma's 100th birthday and she also played a part in WW2 by assisting in supplies/stores so it was a meaningful date to me.

"Unfortunately lost Joe’s grandad Wilf and my Nana Jessie in 2020 amidst the pandemic so we were gutted to have lost them special moments that we should have cherished in May 2020."

Finally able to celebrate their special day 16 months later than first intended, the Raffel's said 'I do' surrounded by their friends and family.

Mrs Raffel said: "We were lucky enough to get married outside with the beautiful surroundings of the lake and the fells.

"We booked the Lady of The Lake vessel from Ullswater's steamers and we kept this a surprise from everyone.

"It went down a treat and everyone loved the afternoon excursion. We loved the fact it was something a little different and broke up the day nicely.

"The main highlight for us had to be the fact that we hadn’t seen since some of our guests the pandemic began last March so it was just lovely to have everyone gathered together to celebrate us tying the knot.

"It definitely made us appreciate how fortunate we were to have the majority of our friends and family there on the day."

The newlyweds enjoyed a week in Cyprus shortly after the wedding, after which they travelled around Sri Lanka for a couple of weeks and spent a few nights in the Maldives before their return home.