Revealed: The mystery third guest at Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell’s wedding – and why Steve would have been delighted to have them there
Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell married in front of only three people at Australia Zoo, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, last week.
Two of the guests were her mother, Terri Irwin, and brother, Robert Irwin, but the third guest was less well-known.
The fifth person at the ceremony was Wes Mannion, the director of Australia Zoo and the best friend of Bindi’s late father, Steve ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ Irwin.
Revealed: The mystery third guest at Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell’s wedding at Australia Zoo last week – and why her late father, Steve, would have been delighted to have them there
‘My dad would be so happy,’ Bindi told People magazine on Wednesday. ‘Even if it wasn’t by-the-book perfect, it was our perfect.’
Bindi and her husband first met in 2013 when Chandler and his parents, who hail from Florida, were on a tour Australia Zoo.
Coincidentally, Wes and Steve had met in a similar way.
Heartwarming: While her mother Terri Irwin (pictured left), 55, and brother Robert Irwin (pictured centre), 16, were familiar faces, their mystery third guest turned out to be a sentimental connection to the 21-year-old bride’s late father Steve Irwin. Pictured: Wes Mannion
Steve met the man who would become best friend when Wes visited Australia Zoo, which was then called the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, in the 1980s
Just like Chandler years later, Wes would eventually become an honorary member of the Irwin family and was even nicknamed Steve’s ‘younger brother’.
In November 2019, Wes tested Chandler’s mettle by sending him into crocodile-infested water during a live show at Australia Zoo.
Close: The late crocodile hunter’s best friend and director of Australia Zoo Wes Mannion was heartwarmingly able to witness Bindi and Chandler, 23, tie the knot
‘It’s a great initiation. If you can do this, the wedding is definitely on!’ Wes told the Coffs Coast Advocate at the time.
He added: ‘You can’t just wander in here like you own the place. If you want to marry her you have to prove yourself.’
Chandler’s initiation at the Crocoseum was a part of Steve Irwin Day, celebrating the legendary conservationist who died from a stingray injury in 2006.
Tragedy: Chandler’s dangerous initiation at the Crocoseum was a part of the inaugural Steve Irwin Day, celebrating the legendary Australian, who lost his life from a stingray injury in 2006