‘It’s important to keep everyone safe’: Bindi Irwin, 21, shares first photo from her wedding to Chandler Powell, 23, and discusses ‘difficult decision’ to have no guests amid the coronavirus pandemic
- The couple married one another on Wednesday at Australia Zoo and shared their first photo on Instagram
- Hours before the wedding, Prime Minister Scott Morrison enforced restrictions on weddings and said a maximum of five guests can attend, including the couple
- Bindi’s brother Robert, 16, did attend the ceremony and walked her down the aisle and her mother Terri helped her to get ready
- The bride lit a candle alongside Chandler in her late father Steve Irwin’s memory, who was killed by a stingray in a freak accident in September 2006
- The move to ban guests comes as part of a global effort to curb the spread of the deadly COVID: 19 virus
- Globally confirmed COVID: 19 cases now top 400,000 – 18,612 have died and 107,247 have recovered
- Bindi and Chandler got engaged at Australia Zoo in Queensland in July last year, on her 21st birthday and they began dating in 2015
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Television personality and wildlife conservationist, Bindi Irwin has shared the first official photo from her wedding to long-term love, wakeboarder, Chandler Powell on Instagram on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old daughter of the late widlife expert, Steve Irwin, and her husband, 23, revealed how they made the difficult decision to have no guests present at the nuptials held at Australia Zoo, to ‘keep everyone safe’, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The decision came just hours after Prime Minister Scott Morrison enforced new restrictions on weddings, with only five people allowed to attend; the couple, the celebrant and witnesses totalling a maximum of five people.
‘It’s important to keep everyone safe’: Bindi Irwin, 21, shared the first photo from her wedding to Chandler Powell, 23, on Instagram on Wednesday as they revealed they had no guests at the wedding amid the coronavirus pandemic
Love wins! Bindi shared this caption about the ‘difficult decision’ to have their wedding without guests, but hoped the day would encourage everyone to hold onto ‘hope and light’ during such trying times
Bindi wrote alongside a picture of herself and Chandler saying their vows: ‘March 25th 2020. We held a small ceremony and I married my best friend. There are no words to describe the amount of love and light in my heart right now.
‘We’ve planned this beautiful day for nearly a year and had to change everything, as we didn’t have guests at our wedding. This was a very difficult decision but important to keep everyone safe.’
‘We wish all of our friends and family could have been there with us, however it’s lovely that we will be able to share photos and videos. Right now we’re encouraging the world to hold onto hope and love, which will carry us forward during this profound time in history.’
Wedding details: Bindi added that her brother Robert walked her down the aisle, and she lit a candle alongside Chandler (pictured) in her late father Steve Irwin’s memory who died in September 2006
She added: ‘We shared tears and smiles and love. Thankfully, since we all live at Australia Zoo as a family, we could be there for each other. To everyone reading this – stay safe, social distance and remember LOVE WINS!.
‘Today we celebrated life and revelled in every beautiful moment we shared together in our Australia Zoo gardens.’
In the stunning photo taken in front of a statement flower wall, Bindi wore a princess-style gown with a lace bodice and semi-sheer sleeves.
Bindi, who moved her wedding date forward, styled her brunette locks in soft waves, and added an intricate beaded crown. Chandler cut a suave figure in a pale blue dress shirt, beige trousers and dress shoes.
Her mother Terri, 55, helped her to get ready and when the vows were said, she joked: ‘You are now husband and wife; you may feed the crocodiles.’
Bindi added that her brother Robert Irwin, 16, walked her down the aisle, and she lit a candle alongside Chandler in her late father Steve Irwin’s memory.
Proud mother: Her mother Terri Irwin (pictured), 55, helped her to get ready and when the vows were said, she joked: ‘You are now husband and wife; you may feed the crocodiles’
‘An emotional and beautifully spontaneous day’: Bindi’s brother Robert Irwin (left), 16, also shared the same photo to his Instagram page, and wrote in the caption that it’s a day he will never forget
He also shared the same photo to his Instagram page, and wrote in the caption that it’s a day he will never forget.
‘Bindi and Chandler, words cannot describe how happy and proud I am that today you started your married life and celebrated love during a difficult time for our world,’ he said.
‘And I was beyond honoured to get to walk Bindi down the aisle today,’ Robert continued, adding that despite having to change plans at the last minute, it was ‘an emotional and beautifully spontaneous day’.
He concluded: ‘I know that Dad was with us, and we are all so delighted for your future as husband and wife. I love you both.’
Chandler shared to his own Instagram page on Wednesday night: ‘We’re finally married! Today, March 25, 2020, marks the most amazing day of my life.
‘I married my best friend. After almost a year of planning, we changed everything so that we could enjoy a safe and small private ceremony at our home, Australia Zoo. As we embark on this new life chapter, I hope that we can share some love in the world, especially during this challenging time,’ he added.
The wedding ceremony took place among a lush garden oasis at Queensland’s Australia Zoo.
An archway for guests of the bride and groom was erected earlier on Wednesday, while statement white florals were seen throughout.
Photographers and videographers were also on hand, no doubt ensuring they got in the perfect position to capture footage of the big day.
Terri’s close confidant, US-based author Steve Maraboli is believed to have officiated the big day.
In position: Videographers and photographers were seen taking their place ahead of the romantic ceremony
Lush garden oasis: Aerial footage obtained by Seven News on Wednesday, saw event planners setting up a stunning outdoor ceremony, complete with lush greenery
Shielded: Bindi is pictured ahead of walking down the aisle. Wearing a statement gown, she was shielded by a group who held up white umbrellas
On Tuesday night, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison enforced tough conditions on weddings amid the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Large gatherings for weddings, sadly, won’t be possible under these new arrangements,’ he said.
‘Sadly, also, and I know this will be very difficult, funerals to no more than 10 persons observing the rules around the four-square-metre rule and the social distancing practices.
‘This is not an easy decision. Where we have already found, and Dr Murphy can speak to this, some of the events that have been some of the major transmitting events, it has been exactly these types of events, particularly weddings.
‘And that is why, regretfully, we have to be able to put these arrangements in place.’
New rules: It comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured on Tuesday) enforced restrictions on weddings as of 11.59pm, March 25, amid the coronavirus pandemic. Weddings may be conducted as long as it’s just the couple, the celebrant and witnesses totalling five people
Keeping her fans updated: Meanwhile, in September last year, Bindi revealed via Instagram that she and Chandler will marry sometime in 2020 at Australia Zoo
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness accompanied by fever, coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath and fatigue. It can produce pneumonia.
The spread of the disease, which began in Wuhan, China, has seen over 420,000 cases worldwide and more than 18,900 fatalities.
As of the evening of March 25, the total number of people diagnosed with the virus in Australia is 2,431 including nine deaths.
Statistics: As of the evening of March 25, the total number of people diagnosed with the virus in Australia is 2,431 including nine deaths
A TIMELINE OF BINDI AND CHANDLER’S ROMANCE
NOVEMBER 2013: The pair first meet at Australia Zoo in Queensland. Chandler later asks Bindi’s mother, Terri, if he can keep in touch with her
JULY 2015: Bindi announces on Instagram that Chandler has become a ‘Wildlife Warrior’ as they embark on a long-distance romance
SEPTEMBER 2015: Bindi and Chandler debut their relationship on the red carpet after her appearance on Dancing with the Stars
LATE 2018: Chandler moves to Queensland to live with the Irwins
NOVEMBER 2018: Bindi says she feels ‘lucky’ to have found ‘The One’
DECEMBER 2018: The couple dismiss engagement rumours, saying they are in no rush to marry
JULY 24, 2019: The pair announce their engagement on Bindi’s 21st birthday
Bindi and Chandler got engaged at Australia Zoo in Queensland in July last year, on what was her 21st birthday and they began dating in 2015.
The elder of the two Irwin children, Bindi met Chandler in 2013 when he was visiting Australia for a wakeboarding competition.
The wildlife warrior shared heartwarming photos to Instagram at the time, after her award-winning wildlife photographer brother Robert captured the sweet moment she said, ‘Yes’ on camera.
Addressing her 3.3 million Instagram followers, Bindi gushed over the ‘most beautiful surprise’ and revealed that she had no idea that the proposal was going to take place, or that her brother was across the park taking photos.
Long-time beau: The couple had been dating for six years prior to getting engaged in July last year
Despite celebrating both her 21st birthday and engagement, Bindi admitted it had been a ‘bittersweet’ day as she was celebrating without her father Steve, who tragically died 13 years ago.
Speaking to the Sunshine Coast Daily, she explained: ‘I do really wish that dad was here to be able to celebrate with us as a family. I think in some ways he is and his spirit lives on in everything that we do, and I always feel closest to dad here at Australia Zoo.’
She added: ‘People have been so kind and sharing so much love and that means so much to me.’
Steve, famously known as the ‘Crocodile Hunter’, tragically died from a stingray barb to the heart in 2006. He was 44-years-old.
Following in his footsteps: Bindi’s father, Steve Irwin (pictured with Bindi as a child), famously known as the ‘Crocodile Hunter’, tragically died from a stingray barb to the heart in 2006. He was 44-years-old
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