How The Coronavirus Outbreak Totally Changed Bindi Irwin's Wedding Day
After almost a year of planning, Bindi Irwin and her longtime love Chandler Powell had to completely change their wedding plans due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to their Instagrams, the couple tied the knot on Wednesday, March 25 with no guests, except for immediate family! "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," Bindi — the 21-year-old daughter of the late Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin — wrote on her page, alongside a photo from her and Powell's wedding day.
In their similar posts, she and Powell, 23, explained that they got married at their "home," the Australia Zoo gardens. And while it was quite an empty ceremony, the lovebirds enjoyed every minute. "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," Bindi continued. "Right now we're encouraging the world to hold onto hope and love, which will carry us forward during this profound time in history."
Bindi Irwin got married in an intimate ceremony
On the big day, Bindi Irwin's mom, Terri Irwin, helped her get ready, while her brother, Robert Clarence Irwin, walked her down the aisle. "Chandler became my husband and together we lit a candle in Dad's memory. 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," she wrote.
Chandler Powell shared the same photo on his Instagram page. "We're finally married! Today, March 25, 2020, marks the most amazing day of my life. I married my best friend," he wrote. "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."
As People previously reported, the couple met in 2013 at the Australia Zoo and dated for six years before becoming engaged in July 2019. They planned to get married alongside their closest friends and relatives this April, but had to rethink their ceremony due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
The day before the intimate wedding, Bindi shared a throwback shot of herself as a kid with late dad Steve Irwin. She captioned the heartwarming photo, "Thank you for being my guiding light. You're always with me."