
A newlywed couple certainly had a wedding day to remember after a rattlesnake bit the groom while they were taking photos by a picturesque reservoir.

Laura Loretz, 33, and Johnny Benson, of Fort Collins, Colorado, got married at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Monday afternoon.

Then, along with their bridal party, they headed to the Horsetooth Reservoir to take some pictures before making their way to their reception.

While the bridal party went to the reception venue, Johnny, 44, stayed behind to get the perfect shot at sunset with his new wife.

As their wedding photographer took pictures of the couple walking hand in hand along a trail, Johnny was bitten on his ankle - but after a quick stop at the hospital, they made it to their wedding reception to dance the night away with their guests.

Once bitten, twice shy! A newlywed couple certainly had a day to remember after a rattlesnake bit the groom while they took photos

For better or worse: Laura Loretz and Johnny Benson got married on Monday before heading to Horsetooth Reservoir to take pictures

'All of a sudden it was like someone kicked me in the shin,' he told the Denver Post. 'Then I looked over and saw the snake sitting there, and it was rattling.'

A Larimer County park ranger soon came to their aid and the groom was taken to Poudre Valley Hospital to be treated for the bite.

Fortunately, it was a 'dry bite' – meaning no venom was injected – so after a tetanus shot, the couple made it to their evening reception.

Laura described the incident as 'pretty epic'.

'It was scary for a minute,' she told the Post. 'Once we got to the emergency room, it was super, super fast.'

The experience was thrilling for their wedding photographer Maddie Mae, who continued clicking away after the bite and while they waited for help to arrive. She said she can't believe a church wedding in her hometown became 'her craziest wedding story to date'.

'As an adventure wedding photographer, I often wade in chest-high water, hike into jungles in Costa Rica, or go on 10-mile hikes with couples on their wedding day,' she said.

'I never would have guessed that my only indoor church wedding this year, in my home town, would actually become the biggest adventure, and my craziest wedding story to date.'

His lucky day! Fortunately, the snake bite was not venomous so Laura and Johnny were able to make it to their wedding reception together

Memorable: The couple, who were engaged in March last year, had stayed behind after the wedding party left to take couple shots

Help is on the way! A park ranger soon came to their aid and the groom was taken to Poudre Valley Hospital to be treated for the bite

One for the books: 'It was scary for a minute,' Laura said of their dramatic day. 'Once we got to the emergency room, it was super fast'

Mae said they had been just 50 feet from the parking lot by the reservoir when the rattlesnake bit Johnny on the ankle, so they tried to flag down a park ranger who was driving by.

'All three of us started waving furiously at him. He rolls down the window and we yelled, "He just got bit by a rattlesnake." The ranger, obviously not hearing what we said, yelled back, "congratulations",' Mae said.

Eventually, the ranger got the message and helped the groom lay down and keep his leg elevated as they waited for paramedics to arrive.

'Not knowing if the rattler had injected venom, the initial prognosis was pretty dire,' she added.

At best, Johnny would need to be in hospital for several hours for the bite to be assessed or, at worst, if he needed anti-venom treatment, he was facing a hospital stay of several days.

'Shortly after we got there, it was determined that no venom had been injected and Johnny still had no swelling or no symptoms. The people at in the ER at Poudre Valley Hospital then became the heroes as they made it the world's shortest ER visit in history,' she said.

The newlyweds were back in their photographer's car and driving to their reception in less than 20 minutes, where they were greeted by 184 cheering guests.

'I've never seen such a emotional grand entrance as all 184 guests cheered when Johnny and Laura walked in, and showered them in a sea of passionate hugs,' Mae added.

'I admire Laura and Johnny so much for staying calm, and holding each other's hand through the first great test of their brand new marriage. The whole reception was filled with laughs, smiles, and jokes about it being a typical 'Johnny Benson' wedding experience.

'The whole situation was so surreal, and I couldn't really help in any way except continue to do my job and capture the story of their wedding day.'

Dramatic: A park ranger helped the groom lay down and keep his leg elevated as the couple waited for paramedics to arrive

Where are the bride and groom? Guests at the wedding had 'freaked out' when the couple didn't arrive at their reception, a friend said

Almost there: Adventure wedding photographer Maddie Mae couldn't believe her only church wedding of the year became a 'crazy story'

Meanwhile, guests at the wedding had 'freaked out' when the couple didn't arrive at their reception, Johnny's friend Nowell Vincent told The Coloradoan.

Vincent says the groom is known for 'notorious' moments – but it appears in this case, his friends may have been the ones who tempted fate. While taking pictures at the reservoir, they had joked about rattlesnakes – shortly before the groom was bit.

Meanwhile, the Odell Brewing Company, where Johnny works as a brewer, congratulated the couple – and promised to work on a new drink called the 'Snake Bite Benson.'

'If rain on your wedding day is good luck, a snake bite guarantees true love forever,' the company said on Facebook. 'We're glad the groom could still dance the night away. Our 'Snake Bite Benson' recipe is already in the works.'

Johnny and Laura, a teacher, met in 2008 but only went on their first date after four years of friendship. They got engaged in March last year while visiting Sayulita, Mexico.

'A search at customs revealed an engagement ring box in Johnny's suitcase,' the couple wrote on their wedding website. 'For 24 hours, we awkwardly avoided talking about what had happened at customs until he finally asked… of course the answer was yes!'

Good luck charm! 'If rain on your wedding day is good luck, a snake bite guarantees true love forever,' Johnny's employer said

No harm done: After the quickest hospital visit , the newlyweds were back in their photographer's car and driving to their reception