Busting Out Ottawa Creates Paddle Arch for Teammate’s Wedding
Submitted by Jennifer Greene.
From paddles to petals, our team made waves on land! Busting Out paddlers surprised teammate Nikki Bedard with a wedding-day paddle arch that turned heads in downtown Ottawa.
On Saturday, September 20, 2025, in downtown Ottawa, 25 members of the Busting Out Ottawa Dragon Boat Club gathered outside the Lord Elgin hotel to create a stunning paddle arch in celebration of teammate Nikki Bedard’s wedding at the National Arts Centre across the street.
The surprise was carefully orchestrated with secret help from Nikki’s fiancé, Johnny Bedard, and wedding photographer Kathi Robertson, who coordinated the timing to ensure the team was ready as Nikki arrived for photos just prior to the ceremony.
A rookie in the 2025 season and the team’s youngest member, Nikki was one of nine new paddlers to join the team this year. Both rookies and veteran paddlers were thrilled to be part of this joyful moment and to surprise their teammate on such a special day.
While waiting for the bride to arrive, passers-by stopped to chat and ask about the team. With the sun shining, music playing, and paddles decorated with wedding tulle and balloons, it made for a festival-like atmosphere and created a shared memory for the whole team.
Photos by Kathi Robertson Weddings (https://kathirobertsonweddings.com/
