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Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell said ‘I do’ in a private ceremony at the Australia Zoo on March 25, attended only by her mother, brother and Steve’s best man. While their big day featured a special tribute to her late father, Steve Irwin, there was another special tribute to her mother, Terri.

Bindi Irwin’s wedding dress was designed to mimic the one her mother wore to marry Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin.

“I wanted something very similar because I’ve admired [my mom’s] dress since I was tiny,” Bindi told People Magazine. “When I was about 12 years old, I put on mum’s wedding dress and it was a really, really special… it’s over 50 years old because it’s been in the family for that long.”

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As the original dress did not fit her and was too old to be altered, the next best solution was to have a new one designed in its image.

The second she saw the dress, Bindi knew it was the one.

“It was just perfect, I said, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s the dress,’ and we all started crying again.”

The dresses sunflower lace print sleeves also reminded Bindi of her father.

“When we would go on projects and drives together, we’d often drive through these huge sunflower fields in the middle of nowhere and we always stopped to take them in,” she explains. “[The dress] was really special and beautiful.”

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Feature image: Instagram / Bindi Irwin

We tune in week after week, episode after episode to follow the lives of fictional characters, so it’s natural that we would develop some feelings toward them. Living in the golden age of television, there are so many iconic, memorable tv couples giving us absolute couple goals.

Here are a few of our favourite smallscreen couples:

Fran Fine and Mr. Sheffield – The Nanny

From the beginning, the chemistry between nanny Fran and Mr. Sheffield was undeniable. Fans waited with baited breath for the pair to realise they were madly in love with each other and it was worth every second when they finally got together in the sixth season.

Jim and Pam – The Office

Although it took them ages, once Jim and Pam stopped pining for each other across the office and finally got together, it’s fair to say every viewer breathed a sigh of relief. Jim and Pam’s relationship started off a friendship, and they continued that mutual respect for each other throughout.

Ben and Leslie – Parks and Recreation

With her infective positivity and bright exuberance, who would have thought Leslie Knope could get any happier? Ben made her shine even brighter, always supporting her goals. We love how their relationship subtly reversed gender norms and avoided drama tropes.

Dre and Rainbow – Blackish

This pair are somehow able to handle anything that comes their way, and often come out of situations stronger. We love that their ridiculous, sometimes camp relationship still feels real and authentic, and we especially love how they address societal issues and embrace different viewpoints.

Bob and Linda – Bob’s Burgers

Happy-go-lucky and excitable Linda seems to be the polar oppopsite of square, dependable Bob, but that’s what makes this animated couple so special. They bring out the best in each other, and somehow keep their incredibly quirky yet lovable family together.

Kurt and Blaine – Glee

The original teenage dream, Kurt and Blaine had Gleeks the world over clutching their chests whenever they sang together. Besides representing LBGTQIA+ love equally and on mainstream television, this couple were eternally supportive of each other’s goals.

Glenn and Maggie – The Walking Dead

The zombie apocolypse seems like a bad time to start a relationship, but somehow Glenn and Maggie make it work. Fan-favourites ever since they got together, this pair gave viewers happiness amongst the grimness of the zombie storyline.

Beth and Randall – This is Us

Beth and Randall seem to be the strongest couple on This Is Us. The pair constantly support each other, even when they don’t agree with what the other wants. Despite having rocky moments, they always end up on top and remain committed to each other as well as being present, positive parents.

Feature image: Instagram / The Office NBC

 

50 years of marriage is a huge milestone, one that is worthy of a big celebration. However, when this couple’s plans were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their family stepped up to make sure their day was memorable while still maintaining a safe social distance.

Dan and Janice Kauffman from Ohio had planned an anniversary dinner to honour their relationship with all their family and friends. However, the elderly couple were forced to give up their plans as the coronavirus spread worsened in America.

The couple had to self-quarantine to avoid contracting the virus, meaning physical contact with their family was cut off.

This couple’s family could not let the anniversary pass by without doing anything. They decided to make a beautiful tribute to Dan and Janice. Standing in small family groupings, they held hand-made signs and cheered on the patriarch and matriarch of the family while performing for them. One family member serenaded the couple with a guitar performance and one child played the violin for his grandparents.

Watch the sweet video below:

Feature image: video screenshot

Simply walking down the aisle on your wedding day is so expected. Some brides and grooms feel the need to really set themselves apart on their big day, and opt for grand entrances.

From a skydiving groom to a flying bride, here are a few OTT moments you need to see.

A bride and her balloons

Ballerina beauties

Let the sky fall

Light ’em up

The greatest show

Feature image: Screenshot

A wedding day is always meaningful, but one of the most memorable moments for many is the father-daughter dance. If you’ve got a special relationship with your dad, you’ll want a beautiful moment on your big day to encapsulate it.

To help you find that perfect tune, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite songs guaranteed to bring some tears to your guests eyes when you take to the floor with your pops.

Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder

Favourite lyrics: “We have been heaven blessed / I can’t believe what God has done / Through us he’s given life to one / But isn’t she lovely made from love”

Father and Daughter – Paul Simon

Favourite lyrics: “I’m gonna watch you shine / Gonna watch you grow / Gonna paint a sign / So you always know / As long as one and one is two / Ooh ooh / There could never be a father / Love his daughter more than I love you”

My Girl – The Temptations

Favourite lyrics: “I’ve got so much honey the bees envy me / I’ve got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees”

I Loved Her First – Heartland

Favourite lyrics: “From the first breath she breathed / When she first smiled at me / I knew the love of a father runs deep”

Slipping Through My Fingers – ABBA

Favourite lyrics: “Slipping through my fingers all the time / I try to capture every minute / The feeling in it”

Make You Feel My Love – Adele

Favourite lyrics: “When the evening shadows and the stars appear / And there is no one there to dry your tears / I could hold you for a million years / To make you feel my love”

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You – Rod Stewart

Favourite lyrics: “Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness / Ease my troubles, that’s what you do”

You Are So Beautiful – Joe Cocker

Favourite lyrics: “You’re everything I hope for / You’re everything I need / You are so beautiful to me”

Unforgettable  – Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole

Favourite lyrics: “Never before has someone been more / Unforgettable in every way / And forevermore (and forevermore) / That’s how you’ll stay (that’s how you’ll stay)”

(They Long to Be) Close to You – The Carpenters

Favourite lyrics: “On the day that you were born the angels got together / And decided to create a dream come true / So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue”

Daddy – Beyoncé

Favourite lyrics: “Even if my man broke my heart today / No matter how much pain I’m in I would be okay, oh / ‘Cause I got a man in my life that can’t be replaced / Father’s love is unconditional, it won’t go away”

Your Song – Elton John

Favourite lyrics: “I hope you don’t mind / That I put down in words / How wonderful life is while you’re in the world”

Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion

Favourite lyrics: “You were my strength when I was weak / You were my voice when I couldn’t speak / You were my eyes when I couldn’t see / You saw the best there was in me”

Feature image: Unsplash

Across the world, people are working from home and self-quarantining amid the COVID-19 pandemic. After clocking out of your imaginary office, you’ve probably got a lot of time on your hands. Now seems like the perfect time to do your wedding research.

Whether or not you’re getting married, these films are sure to inspire you as well as show you what NOT to do in the lead-up to your big day.

The Wedding Planner

Jennifer Lopez plays Mary Fiore, San Francisco’s most successful wedding planner. However, she breaks a crucial rule when she falls for one of the grooms, played by Matthew McConaughey. This movie offers early 2000s romcom at its finest.

Father of the Bride

In this heartwarming tale, a father, played by Steve Martin, struggles to come to terms with the fact his eldest daughter is getting married. This film gives great insight into how parents feel when their children take this big step.

My Best Friend’s Wedding

When Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) finds out her best friend Michael O’Neal (Dermot Mulroney) plans to marry in a few days, she realises she is actually in love with him and sets off to get the wedding cancelled. Many hijinks and a famous musical scene that catapaulted the song “I Say a Little Prayer (For You)” can be expected.

The Wedding Singer

This 1998 romantic comedy tells the story of wedding singer Robbie (Adam Sandler) and waitress Julia (Drew Barrymore), both of whom are engaged to other people. When Robbie’s fiance breaks things off, Julia helps him find happiness again and they begin to fall for one another. This is just one of many classic Sandler / Barrymore films that has gone down in history.

Bridesmaids

An all-star cast of funny women leaves us with a laugh-a-minute movie. The movie follows Annie, played by Kristen Wiig, who begins unravelling when she becomes maid of honour to best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph). The limit does not exist for quotable moments in this film.

Runaway Bride

New York columnist Ike, played by Richard Gere, is assigned to write an article about Maggie Carpenter (Julia Roberts), a woman who has a history of leaving fiance’s at the altar on their wedding day and thus earning her the nickname ‘The Runaway Bride”. As she prepares to walk down the aisle again, Ike and Maggie grow closer, threatening history to repeat itself once more.

Monster-in-Law

Everthing is plain sailing for Charlie (Jennifer Lopez) and Kevin (Michael Vartan), who quickly fall in love and get engaged, until Charlie meets Kevin’s mother Viola (Jane Fonda), who is determined to keep her son all to herself. After watching this movie, we hope you’ll feel a lot more grateful for your own mother-in-law.

Sweet Home Alabama

When New York-based up-and-coming fashion designer Melanie Carmichael (Reece Witherspoon) becomes engaged to famed politician’s son Andrew Hennings (Patrick Dempsey), she is forced to return to her secret Southern roots to divorce her first husband Jake, who refuses to sign the papers.

Feature image: Unsplash

The day you get married is one of the biggest events of your life. A lot of planning goes into your big day, and you might start to feel a little overwhelmed in the days leading up to your wedding. It’s important to give yourself time to wrap your head around all the changes being married will bring to your life, as well as prepare for the practical things that need to happen on the day.

It might be a smart move to actively take steps to mentally prepare yourself for your wedding to make sure you are the calm, radiant bride you want to be on your dream day. Here are five ways to get yourself in the right frame of mind:

Expect to feel emotional

Unless you are the Ice Princess, you will experience strong emotions. You are taking a huge step! If you know to expect it, you will feel more in control. Remind yourself why you are doing this, how much you love your partner and how excited you are to get married. Other factors might come into play, like close family that can’t be there, which can also turn on the waterworks. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Emotions are healthy and as long as you know it’s normal, you can instead choose to be grateful for the joy and happiness coming your way.

Things will go wrong

Without trying to sound like doomsday prophets, we can almost certainly guarantee some things will go wrong. It’s Murphy’s Law, and no one is above it. However, that doesn’t mean your day is ruined. There is always a plan to be made! Trust your bridesmaids to get creative, and try not to worry too much over things you can’t change, like the weather.

Your partner is nervous too

Believe it or not, your partner probably feels just as nervous as you. Try to be encouraging and supportive. After all, you’re in this together! A sweet note before the ceremony or a tight hug when you see them at the altar will help reaffirm them. Focusing on your loved one will also help to forget your own nerves.

Double check the arrangements 

To help put your mind at ease, try to double check all the arrangements at least two or three days before the wedding. If you have a wedding planner, check in with them, and then leave the rest up to them. If you planned the wedding yourself, go over everything with your maid of honour/mother/mother-in-law so you have someone else’s input and guidance and to make sure they know what needs to fall in place. This is not the time to “play it by ear”.

Your bridesmaids are only doing their best

The last important thing to keep in mind is that everyone is there to help you make your dream come true. They are all doing the best they can and they are only human. Turning into ‘Bridezilla’ will just make them nervous too and will keep everyone from enjoying the special event. Rather let them know how much you appreciate all their hard work, support and help!

Also read: How to keep calm on your wedding day

Image: Pixabay

The coronavirus pandemic has affected people beyond the scope of what we thought possible. A simple thing like spending time together has been taken away from many considered ‘high-risk’.

Such is the story of Bob and Nancy Shellard from Vernon, Connecticut. The pair celebrates their 67th wedding anniversary this year. However, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Bob was not allowed inside the nursing home Nancy is staying in. The governor of Connecticut had banned nursing home visits for 30 days for concern of the health of the elderly.

The couple have never spent their anniversary apart, and Bob was not about to allow this to be the first time. He decided to celebrate outside Nancy’s window at the nursing home by holding up a sign that read “I’ve loved you 67 years and still do. Happy Anniversary.”

In response, Nancy sent air kisses and waves from inside the nursing home.

“It makes me feel bad because I want her down with me and I know she can’t be,” Bob told NBC Connecticut.

Speaking to NBC Connecticut, the couple’s daughter Laura said, “They have always been an inspiration to us and I think just seeing every year go by that they still express it in some way on their anniversary.”

“It’s just been an example for us, for all of us of kids. So all four of us have really learned a lot from them and I can only hope that I have half as much as what they have shared over the years.”

Image: Screenshot / NBC Connecticut

 

Shevon Cupido and Carmelete Mentoor have been best friends for almost 30 years, and have supported each other each step of the way. Proving that she is a true ride-or-die friend, Shevon, along with their other lifelong friend Jolene Muller, threw her best friend Carmelete a surprise wedding.

Carmelete met her future fiancé Shawn at a party in 2006. They exchanged numbers and soon became official. In 2012, the pair became engaged at the Cape Company Gardens. However, due to financial reasons, Carmelete and Shawn struggled to set an official wedding date.

Image: supplied

Shevon decided to step in and give her best friend a day she’ll never forget.

“They were planning on eventually having a small ceremony and getting a member of their church to marry them at their house, just the two of them. I knew that wasn’t what she really wanted in her heart so I knew I had to do something as every wedding deserves a celebration,” Shevon explains.

Sunflowers are the bride’s favourite flower, so Shevon decided to base the decor on this plant and everything fell in place.

Image: supplied

Of course, planning a surprise wedding comes with even more difficulties than planning your own. Shevon experienced much stress, particularly over whether they would have enough finances to make the perfect day.

To keep the surprise alive, Shevon came up with a diversion.

“My plan was to take her and her now husband out on the Saturday as her 40th birthday was the Thursday before. This gave me an excuse to have them ready for the day and luckily they did not suspect anything until we reached the wedding destination, which was my in-laws home. Before entering the home, I then told them that they are actually there to celebrate their wedding day and was met with shocked but happy faces and lots of happy tears.”

Image: supplied

Luckily the bridal couple was over the moon at this surprise.

“I was shocked and burst into tears when Shevon told us,” says Carmelete. “I then ended up crying the entire day with happiness and gratefulness. I just couldn’t believe that today is the day that I will be getting married. Finally.”

“My favourite part was seeing everyone that I keep close to my heart. My day was overwhelmed by love, happiness and most of all a thankful heart.”

Image: supplied

All images taken by Tred Magill.

Featured image: supplied

 

The million dollar question! If you were in a serious relationship before dating your current partner, you might wonder how to go about it. You can’t deny that they were a significant part of your life, but you also don’t want to create unnecessary tension or make anyone uncomfortable, least of all yourself or your new partner.

So, if it’s something you’re considering, it largely depends on a few factors. Keep these in mind when making your decision:

Do you have a relaxed friendship with them? If so, and hopefully in that case they are friends with your current partner too, of course you should invite them. That probably means you broke up on good terms and have put the past behind you. We say go for it.

If, however, things did not end on a good note and there is unfinished business, or unresolved feelings from their side (hopefully not from yours!), then it might be a no-go. You might think you are just being polite, but the truth is, you don’t owe them anything. Having them there might just create opportunity for a scene you don’t want.

If they are the plus-one of an invited guest, but you did not actually plan on inviting your ex, discuss this with your partner and the invited guest. If it makes you or your spouse uncomfortable, you can talk to the guest and sensitively explain why you don’t think it’s a good idea. Any reasonable person would understand if they are made aware of the situation.

Lastly, in which ever scenario you find yourself, avoid two things: Trying to make your ex jealous with your new partner, and disregarding your new partner’s feelings. If you’re trying to make anyone jealous, you might have to work on some issues and make sure you really are over your ex. Remember, your new life with your new partner should kick off with a happy start and if it would hurt them, we say don’t go there. It’s not worth it.

Image: Unsplash