On Bindi Irwin’s 21st birthday – July 24, 2019 – she said “yes” to a marriage proposal from her boyfriend of several years, Chandler Powell.
Since that day, the only daughter of the late Steve Irwin has been planning every detail to her wedding.
A few days after the engagement, she spoke with Entertainment Tonight and revealed how she would be honoring her father, who died when she was just eight years old. She said her younger brother, Robert, would be walking her down the aisle in their father’s place. She believes that’s exactly what Steve would have wanted:
“I’m always so grateful that Robert is there, and he has been such a big part of my life and he’s always stepped up and been the one to give me a hug when I need it and encourage me forward in life,” Bindi said. “So he will definitely be the one to walk me down the aisle when the time comes, and I think that will make it really special.”
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But, one month before their wedding date, COVID-19 began spreading all over the world.
“We had been planning for almost a year,” Bindi told PEOPLE for their latest issue. “As soon as this all started happening, we had to look at different options to make sure everyone was safe.”
Just a few days before the wedding were to take place, Bindi and Chandler essentially “cancelled” their wedding to anyone who didn’t live with them at the Australia Zoo.
Bindi told PEOPLE, “We thought about postponing, because you want to share this day with everyone, but when it boiled down to it, we both just said, ‘Look, we desperately want to get married, and no matter what the future holds, at least we’ll be husband and wife. We can take on the world together.'”
The only people in attendance were Bindi’s mom Terri – who helped the bride get ready – her brother Robert, and her father’s best friend Wes Mannion.
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They were saddened to not be able to share the day with Chandler’s family and the rest of their friends, but Bindi says, “It was a tough decision but absolutely the right one.”
Bindi also shared some more wedding photos with PEOPLE Magazine for their upcoming issue.
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To see more photos from their special day, click here.
Congratulations, Chandler and Bindi!