Bindi Irwin tying knot in surprise wedding before lockdown measures at midnight

Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell have decided to get married today ahead of strict coronavirus measures kicking off at midnight tonight.

Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell have decided to get married today ahead of strict coronavirus measures kicking off at midnight tonight.

The couple’s wedding is being live-streamed on 7 News Queensland now at Australia Zoo, with a small handful of guests seen at the site via drone footage.

The surprise nuptials come after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Tuesday that weddings would be restricted to no more than five guests as part of a list of social restrictions put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Bindi's wedding preparations this afternoon

Irwin was engaged to Powell last July after he proposed on her 21st birthday at her favourite location in Australia Zoo.

The former Dancing With The Stars contestant posted the happy news on Instagram, sharing a photo of her engagement ring to her 3.3 million followers.

“July 24th 2019. On my birthday I said ‘yes’ and ‘forever’ to the love of my life,” she captioned a photo of the couple.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 24th 2019 ❤️ On my birthday I said ‘yes’ and ‘forever’ to the love of my life. Chandler, close to 6 years ago I fell in love with you and every day since has been a whirlwind of adventure and true happiness. I’m so looking forwarding to spending our forever together as your wife. Here’s to a lifetime of friendship, purpose and unconditional love. — Now let’s get married already!

A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin) on Jul 24, 2019 at 3:30am PDT

“Chandler, close to 6 years ago I fell in love with you and every day since has been a whirlwind of adventure and true happiness,” she said.

“I’m so looking forwarding to spending our forever together as your wife. Here’s to a lifetime of friendship, purpose and unconditional love. — Now let’s get married already!”

While some of the wildlife icon’s fans posted messages wishing the star well on her big day today, others slammed the move as “irresponsible”.

In early footage of the event, guests can be seen huddling close together, ignoring social distancing rules.

“This is not cool. Putting other people’s lives at risk for her own happiness. Not cool. So not cool,” one man on Twitter said.

“I’m not the best at visualising distances, but those people crowding around Bindi Irwin are definitely not 1.5 metres apart,” another pointed out.

“This gathering of people is irresponsible,” one simply added.

I’m not the best at visualising distances, but those people crowding around Bindi Irwin are definitely not 1.5 metres apart. pic.twitter.com/ne643L6jUW

— Karen Sweeney (@karenlsweeney) March 25, 2020

This is not cool. Putting other people’s lives at risk for her own happiness. Not cool. So not cool.

— Philip (@Phi1ipEvans) March 25, 2020

And here we go, another party where a cluster of covid cases will emerge from.

Shame on you @BindiIrwin Australia's health is more important than your wedding.

— Almost RN, Lisa. (@earthlywayfarer) March 25, 2020

Bindi and Chandler, a professional wakeboarder from the US, met in 2013 when she gave the American and his family a tour of Australia Zoo.

Chandler now works alongside the Irwins at Australia Zoo.