Bindi Irwin is officially a married woman! The 21-year-old daughter of late Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin married her longtime love, Chandler Powell. The two tied the knot on the grounds of the family's Australia Zoo. She took to Instagram to share the news of her "safe and small private ceremony."
The decision to have a small wedding wasn't an easy one for the couple. They had planned to have a large celebration in April among family and friends. Sadly, the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent travel restrictions and social distancing regulations necessitated a change in plans. Thankfully, with the Irwins all living together at the Australia Zoo, mom Terri and brother Robert were able to be part of Bindi and Chandler's wedding.
The change in plans didn't stop the happy couple from glowing on their special day. Bindi and Chandler have shared only a single photo from the wedding, but there is reportedly a special project in the works to share more from their wedding day with their fans.
Bindi Irwin's wedding day may not have been what she was planning, but it was still perfect in her eyes. The 21-year-old daughter of Terri Irwin and the late Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin married her longtime love, Chandler Powell, on the grounds of the family's Australia Zoo. Bindi announced the news in an Instagram post.
"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," Bindi shared.
"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 reveled in every beautiful moment we shared together in our Australia Zoo gardens," Bindi continued. She then shared some details of their day.
"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!"
Chandler posted the same photo with a message of his own. "We’re finally married! ❤️ Today, March 25, 2020, marks the most amazing day of my life," he captioned the same image.
"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."
A representative for the Australia Zoo commented on Bindi and Chandler's celebration in a statement to USA Today.
"The Australia Zoo family are thrilled for Bindi and Chandler, we wish them a long and happy future together as husband and wife," the statement reads. "They had a beautiful small, private ceremony together in the gardens of Australia Zoo."
The Australia Zoo was "unable to share additional details of the special day." However, it did hint that there was something in the works. The two are reportedly "in the process of working on a very special project that will ensure Bindi and Chandler’s wedding is shared with everyone."
Bindi and Chandler got engaged over the summer. He proposed on Bindi's 21st birthday on July 24, 2019, after six years of dating. Their wedding was originally scheduled for April, but those plans were changed due to travel restrictions and prohibitions on large gatherings.
Bindi and Chandler first met in 2013. Chandler, a former professional wakeboarder, was visiting Australia. He took a trip to the zoo, where Bindi was giving tours.
"It just so happened that Bindi was giving tours that day," he recalled in a December 2018 interview with People magazine. "I’m like, ‘Wow she is amazing.’"
Chandler and Bindi "hit it off right away." Friendship led to romance, and the rest is history. "We haven’t looked back since," the couple noted.
For Bindi, it was important to find a partner who shared her family's values, particularly those of her dad.
"He loves wildlife and conservation and he has this strength," Bindi gushed. "Which is necessary when you’re jumping on crocs."
Chandler moved from Florida to Australia to continue his relationship with Bindi in 2018. "I’ve got my khaki on and I am loving it!" he said.
Terri has always been very supportive of the couple's relationship. After Bindi posted an underwater shot of her and Chandler swimming hand in hand back in February, Terri retweeted it.
"You are both so incredibly blessed. Enjoy each and every day of your happily ever after," Terri wrote.
He also won the approval of the other important man in Bindi's life, Robert.
"One of the first times Chandler came to the zoo I wanted to kind of test him," Robert recalled. "Just to see what would happen. So we had him feeding alligators and he did awesome. I’m very impressed. He’s great with wildlife so I approve."
Just over a week after Bindi and Chandler got engaged, Bindi posted a heartwarming note to her dad about Robert.
"Dad, You would be so incredibly proud of Robert," she wrote. "He has been such an amazing support during this beautiful new life chapter. I know you’d be beaming with pride when the time comes that he walks me down the aisle. I wish you could be here for these moments, but I know that your spirit lives on in us ❤️."
Bindi and Chandler have enjoyed a beautiful love story, and it's just the beginning. Their dedication not only to each other but to something bigger than them both is truly admirable. Congratulations to the happy couple on becoming husband and wife!
