OMG! Bindi Irwin is officially married!!! The 21-year-old Australian icon rushed to wed her 24-year-old fiance Chandler Powell last night at Australia Zoo just before weddings and large gatherings became banned by the government during this coronavirus pandemic.
WATCH: Bindi Irwin marries ahead of wedding shutdowns caused by coronavirus
In photos obtained by 7 News on Wednesday, Steve Irwin’s daughter was wearing a large white wedding gown as she was ushered into the Zoo on the Sunshine Coast.
A helicopter arrived at the scene when Bindi left in an SUV.
Bindi uploaded the moment they kissed at the altar to her Instagram with a lengthy, emotional caption:
“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. Today we celebrated life and revelled in every beautiful moment we shared together in our Australia Zoo gardens. Mum helped me get ready, Robert walked me 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. To everyone reading this – stay safe, social distance and remember LOVE WINS!”
The previous day, Bindi had uploaded a gorgeous photo of herself and her late father Steve when she was just a child.
“Thank you for being my guiding light. You’re always with me,” the caption read.
Bindi and Chandler got engaged on Bindi’s 21st birthday back in June, 2019.
Bindi had forever planned on having her wedding at the Australia Zoo, with Bindi’s younger brother walking her down the aisle. SOB.
“It’s where we met, it’s where we got engaged, it only makes sense we’d have it at Australia Zoo,” Chandler told Good Morning America.
Terri, Bindi’s mother, also recently spoke about her daughter’s big day.
“We want to acknowledge Steve by all of us lighting this candle for him, but you know, I guess in some ways it’s not necessary because Steve will be there anyway,” she told The Courier Mail.
“I believe the people we love always are. You know, if you are missing someone, I think it’s helpful to know that scientifically you can’t actually create or extinguish life, you can only change its form,” she added, continuing, “so if you are grieving someone you loved very much, look to science and just remember that when you boil the kettle and steam comes out, it doesn’t mean the water has gone.”
Bindi’s dress, which we are all dying to see, was teased on her Instagram recently when she showed off the sleeve of vintage lace.
Terri’s close friend, US author Steve Maraboli was rumored to have been asked by Bindi and Chandler to officiate the ceremony, after he posted this message:
“Always honoured when asked to speak or officiate at a wedding,” he shared on Instagram.
As of midnight Wednesday, weddings were limited to five people only.
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