Real Weddings

Couple embrace Hill Country chic (and bury the bourbon) for special wedding day

It’s often said that the best romantic relationships are those that start as friends first. Lindsey and Matthew Putterman can certainly attest to that. The two met on a 10-day trip to Israel and fell into an instant friendship.

“We were like the guy and girl versions of each other,” Lindsey said.

It was after their trip and as college students at the University of Texas that things took a more romantic turn, blossoming into something far more serious than just friends. The couple dated for four years and Lindsey was completely shocked when Matthew proposed before the duo was about to leave for the UT/OU game in Dallas.

They were readying for the road trip when Matthew dropped on one knee and proposed.

“He told me, ‘Everyday is an adventure with and I want to spend the rest of mine with you,’” Lindsey said.

How could a girl possibly resist?

Lindsey is from San Antonio and Matthew hails from Houston, and they wanted an outdoor wedding with a modern Southern feel, so they headed for the Hill Country and fell for the elegantly rustic charm of the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio.

They also wove important religious elements into the fabric of their wedding. Both of their childhood rabbis officiated the ceremony and Lindsey’s sister, Shannon, sang a song from Fiddler on the Roof during the signing of the Ketubah, or the marriage contract.

“We had a very traditional Jewish wedding. It was important to us,” Lindsey said.

In an appeal to the weather gods, Lindsey and Matthew buried a bottle of bourbon at the wedding site. The Southern tradition dictates brides and grooms who bury a full bottle of bourbon upside down exactly one month before the big day will have perfect wedding weather. Not only was rain a concern, but so were cold January temperatures. Despite chilly weather, the weather was ideal.

“It didn’t rain on our wedding day. The weather was amazing,” Lindsey said.

Score one for the bourbon.

Other big hits included the aptly named Matchmaker, an Austin band that played Motown, soul, funk and dance music for the reception and the innovative idea of starting dinner with salads at the tables and then moving to stations for the following courses.

The stars definitely shone bright for the two Longhorns who got exactly what they had planned and dreamed of for their wedding and reception.

“Hill Country and anything Texas. We wanted that to be the vibe of the day,” Lindsey said. “We merged our styles and it was amazing.”

• Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Sunset Station
• Rehearsal Dinner Dress: BCBG from Julian Gold
• Reception Venue:Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa San Antonio
• Ceremony Venue:Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resport and Spa San Antonio
• Photographer:Reg Campbell
• Florist: wendee sawran petals + decor
• Dress: Monique Lhuillier from Casa de Novia
• Shoes:Manolo Blahnik
• Groom's Tux: Strong Suit from M Penner
• Wedding Planner:Caplan Miller Events
• Band: Matchmaker
• Ceremony Music:Terra Vista Strings
• Cocktail Hour Music: Terra Vista Strings

Lindsey and Matthew Putterman created an elegantly rustic outdoor wedding ceremony.

weddings

share the road

Texas is one of the least cyclist-friendly states in the nation

Photo by Danist Soh on Unsplash

If you've ridden your bicycle in Houston, you already know how true this is.

In what will come as no surprise to cyclists around Houston, the state of Texas is not a good place for bicycle riding. According to a new report of the "Most Cycling-Friendly States in the U.S.," Texas comes in at No. 47 — meaning that only three other states are worse.

The report, from Philadelphia personal injury law firm KaplunMarx, examines all 50 states based on six metrics: Air quality index, the number of cyclist deaths per one million residents, bike routes per square mile, local government actions supporting cycling, federal funding for cycling projects, and bicycle laws.

Texas musters a mere 31 points out of 100 for its "cycling friendly score."

The most cycling friendly state in the U.S.: Minnesota, which earned 84 points to claim the title.

According to the report's findings, there have been 15 local government actions per capita in Texas that integrate pedestrians and cyclists in transportation projects. Texas' has a 41 air quality index value, and there are approximately 1.2 bike routes per 1,000 square miles in the state.

On cyclist deaths, Texas does a little better, with three cyclist deaths per one million residents in Texas — about nine percent lower than the national average.

According to KaplunMarx founding partner Ted Kaplun, there is an average of 857 cyclist fatalities in the U.S. every year. He adds that every measure or community effort to improve cyclist-friendliness is beneficial for all Americans.

"It's crucial for all states to continually assess and enhance their cycling provisions, learning from both high-ranking peers and their own experiences," he says.

Top-ranking Minnesota has only one cyclist death per one million state residents. It also has about 27.2 bike routes per 1,000 square miles.

After Minnesota, the remaining top five best states for cyclists are Massachusetts (No. 2), Rhode Island (No. 3), Washington (No. 4), and Iowa (No. 5).

At the bottom of the list are Nevada (No. 48), Arizona (No. 49), and Utah (No. 50) — all of which performed far worse than Texas to be declared the three least cycling-friendly states.

The entire country still has areas for improvement when it comes to creating a safer environment for cyclists, regardless of where each state landed on the list, according to Kaplun.

"With over 53 million Americans riding bicycles regularly, the importance of cycling-friendly infrastructure and safety measures cannot be overstated," said Kaplun in the report. "This isn't just about rankings – it's about enhancing the quality of life, promoting sustainable transportation, and most crucially, saving lives."

texas reports rankings cyclists

Real Weddings

Couple embrace Hill Country chic (and bury the bourbon) for special wedding day

Lindsey and Matthew Putterman created an elegantly rustic outdoor wedding ceremony.

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share the road

Texas is one of the least cyclist-friendly states in the nation

Real Weddings

Couple embrace Hill Country chic (and bury the bourbon) for special wedding day

Lindsey and Matthew Putterman created an elegantly rustic outdoor wedding ceremony.

How to watch the invite-only Michelin Guide Texas ceremony — plus predictions

15 food and drink specials saluting Houston's heroes on Veterans Day

Bun B's Trill Burgers coming to 2 Houston suburbs in 2025

share the road

Texas is one of the least cyclist-friendly states in the nation

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