Bindi Irwin said “yes” to a life with her longtime boyfriend, Chandler Powell, on July 24 — which also happened to be her 21st birthday. Yet, despite a whirlwind few days and quite a bit to celebrate, the newly engaged couple has already had some time to think about plans for their upcoming wedding.
The couple told Entertainment Tonight that they’d like the wedding to take place sometime next year, and while they may not have the exact date just yet, there is at least one wedding tradition the bride-to-be has sorted out: She already knows the perfect person to walk her down the aisle.
Bindi lost her dad, Steve Irwin, the famed “Crocodile Hunter,” when she was just 8 years old, after he was stung by a stingray. But while he won’t be there, there is someone she wants to stand beside her on her big day — her little brother, Robert Irwin.
“I think that for me, it’ll be really important that Robert walks me down the aisle,” Bindi told Entertainment Tonight. “That’s something that I really want to do.”
She continued, “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 … 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.”
She also pointed out that she believes her dad would be happy to know that her brother would be there to support her in such a special moment. “And I think that’s what dad would have wanted as well,” she told ET.
Her brother Robert, 15, was already a major part of her proposal, as he was on standby to photograph his sister saying “Yes” on camera. Bindi revealed on Instagram that her brother and her now-fiancé worked together to document the proposal:
“The most beautiful surprise. Chandler and Robert worked together to capture the moment I said ‘YES,’” she wrote. “We were in the gardens of Australia Zoo and it was beyond perfect. I never even knew Robert was there photographing and I’ll always be grateful to have these special memories of the most amazing day of my life.”
Of course, she was overwhelmed with happiness the moment Powell dropped to one knee, but she also admits that becoming engaged was “bittersweet,” too.
“[The proposal] was so incredibly special. But then, at the same time for me on a personal note, there’s people who I really wish could be here today for this time in my life,” she told Entertainment Tonight. “Particularly my dad.”
She continued, “I wish that he could be here to be getting excited and welcome [Powell] into the family, and I think that’s really challenging [for me],” she told the publication. “I think that Dad would have loved him so much and he would have been so excited that he’s now part of our family.”
Congratulations to the happy couple! We’re totally thrilled for this beautiful family, which will be one more member strong once the wedding has taken place.
Who else is ready to see Robert escort Bindi down the aisle on her big day?!
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