News | Entertainment
26 Dec 2025 20:20
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Bindi Irwin held a “candle-lighting ceremony” for her later father Steve Irwin at her wedding last week

    The 21-year-old conservationist tied the knot with Chandler Powell on March 25, and although her father - who died in 2006 after he was attacked by a stingray while working on an underwater film - couldn’t be there to walk her down the aisle, they made sure to include him in the ceremony


    Bindi explained to People magazine: “Where we got married was such a special place to dad. It’s a beautiful little area where he had filmed for many years. It felt really wonderful and just meant to be.

    “We had dad’s picture with his dog Sui blown up on an easel. So mom and Robert were standing right next to dad as we exchanged vows. We had a candle-lighting ceremony for him, and it really felt like he was there with us. It was a lovely moment of peace and happiness.”

    The beauty married Chandler in the gardens of her family’s home inside Australia Zoo, and although she had originally planned a larger ceremony with 200 guests, the guest list was scrapped as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Instead, the only people present at the ceremony were the newlyweds, as well as Bindi’s mother Terri Irwin and younger brother Robert Irwin, who walked Bindi down the aisle in the place of their late father.

    The ‘Crikey! It’s the Irwins’ star spoke about the change to her wedding plans after some fans questioned why she had held her wedding during the pandemic, where gatherings have been banned to try and stop the virus from spreading.

    She wrote on Instagram: "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"

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     26 Dec: Kate Winslet thinks Brits often struggle "talking about grief"
     26 Dec: Paul Rudd lied about playing Hamlet "in a production directed by Sir Ben Kingsley" at the beginning of his career
     26 Dec: Erika Jayne's style is an "S+M chic kind of vibe"
     26 Dec: Anthony Joshua believes his boxing career has suffered because he has been "distracted" by things outside of the sport in recent years
     26 Dec: James Van Der Beek's gaunt appearance during the Dawson's Creek reunion was due to a stomach virus - and not related to his cancer battle
     26 Dec: Tom Brady would be ready to play if he made a second comeback to the NFL
     26 Dec: Kourtney Kardashian hasn't had Botox injections in four years
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Blues recruit Pita Ahki feels he's wiser and more experienced for his time in the Northern Hemisphere More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Some good news on the horizon for cattle and sheep farmers More...



     Today's News

    Boxing:
    Harry Brook's on the attack, Cameron Green runs himself out and Josh Tongue cashes in — quick hits from Boxing Day at the MCG 20:16

    Entertainment:
    Kate Winslet thinks Brits often struggle "talking about grief" 19:50

    Entertainment:
    Paul Rudd lied about playing Hamlet "in a production directed by Sir Ben Kingsley" at the beginning of his career 19:20

    Living & Travel:
    The Coastguard's expecting a busy summer on the water, and urges people to prioritise key safety steps before heading out 18:56

    Entertainment:
    Erika Jayne's style is an "S+M chic kind of vibe" 18:50

    Boxing:
    The series may be gone but the England cricketers seemingly don't care, as they ripped through the Australian batters before tea in the Boxing Day test 18:37

    Entertainment:
    Anthony Joshua believes his boxing career has suffered because he has been "distracted" by things outside of the sport in recent years 18:20

    Motoring:
    Following in Hayden Paddon's tyre tracks on the World Rally Championship is the end goal for New Zealand-born Japanese rally driver Zeal Jones 18:07

    Entertainment:
    James Van Der Beek's gaunt appearance during the Dawson's Creek reunion was due to a stomach virus - and not related to his cancer battle 17:50

    Rugby:
    Blues recruit Pita Ahki feels he's wiser and more experienced for his time in the Northern Hemisphere 17:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd