Bindi Irwin shares adorable first photo after tying the knot with Chandler Powell

Bindi Irwin, the daughter of Steve and Terri Irwin, has married Chandler Powell in a ‘small ceremony’ at Australia Zoo after being forced to move everything forward due to the coronavirus.

The 21-year-old dashed to tie the knot before restrictions come into effect in Australia at midnight last night, which now allow five people to be present.

“March 25th 2020 ❤️ We held a small ceremony and I married my best friend,” Bindi started the caption.

“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.

Bindi went on to say that she married in the Australia Zoo gardens, with her mum helping her getting ready and her brother Robert walking 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. To everyone reading this - stay safe, social distance and remember LOVE WINS,” she finished.

Footage earlier in the day showed the bride getting out of a white car huddling under umbrellas, as photographers and Zoo keepers with animals stood in waiting.

Bindi Irwin announced her engagement to her boyfriend, Chandler Powell in July last year, after he dropped to one knee on her 21st birthday.

Fans disappointed as wedding flouts ‘social distancing’ recommendations

Some fans were happy for the couple, sharing their congratulations. But others called them out for setting a bad example.

“What would be even better would be if they set the example and only had a limited wedding. This isnt about denying people fun this is about keeping people safe. I'm completely disappointed in them,” one person wrote on Twitter.

“Suppose different rules for celebrities,” another said.

“She would've had workers from Australia Zoo and family there. Who cares what she does, move along,” one fan countered.

Bindi chooses brother Robert Irwin to walk her down the aisle

In August Bindi had revealed she wanted her brother Rob to walk her down the aisle.

The bride-to-be broke the news in a heartfelt post on Instagram, sharing two photos - the first a throwback family pic and the other more recent snap of herself, Chandler and Rob right after the couple got engaged.

For the caption, Bindi penned a touching open letter to her late dad, ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin, who passed away in 2006 when she was just eight years old.

“Dad, You would be so incredibly proud of Robert. He has been such an amazing support during this beautiful new life chapter,” she wrote.

“I know you’d be beaming with pride when the time comes that [Rob] walks me down the aisle. I wish you could be here for these moments, but I know that your spirit lives on in us,” she added.

How Bindi and Chandler met

Bindi and Chandler met in 2013, after the star took his family on a private tour of Australia Zoo in Queensland.

However, they didn’t start dating until July 2015, after Chandler reached out to Terri and asked if he could take Bindi out and they’ve been inseparable ever since.

The loved-up Australian star told the Australian Women’s Weekly in an interview in 2017 that she believes her dad would have approved of Chandler.

"I'm lucky I have found the one, the person I want to spend all of my time with," she said.

"Mum and Robert and I have talked about that a lot. We think dad would have loved Chandler."

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