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.

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Beep Beep

Texas cruises to the middle of America's best states for drivers 2026

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Texas residents love to debate which cities have the best — and worst — drivers in our own state, but which states boast the best conditions for drivers overall? As it turns out, Texas is only average.

SmartAsset's new study "Best and Worst States for Drivers" ranked states based on auto insurance premiums as a share of annual household income, the price of a 15-gallon tank of gas as a share of weekly household income, traffic fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, and the share of interstate highway pavement rated "good."

Texas ties with Colorado as the 26th best state for drivers. Massachusetts tops the list.

According to the report's findings, 65 percent of Texas' interstate highways are in "good condition," and there are about 1.2 auto fatalities per 100 million miles traveled in the state.

Additionally, the cost of a 15-gallon tank of gas in Texas represents 3.47 percent of a resident's median weekly income, and insurance premiums eat up 2.05 percent of earnings, the study calculated.

Considering how much gas prices have soared over the last several months, commuting to work or driving around town is taking a bigger chunk out of Texas residents' wallets than it was before. At least Houstonians have the metro rail to get around downtown, and shuttle services like Shutto or Vonlane for easy traveling to other Texas cities.

"Between loan payments, maintenance, fuel and auto insurance, the cost of owning and operating a vehicle now averages more than $11,000 per year," the report said. "Even as U.S. cities and counties increase investment in public transportation, more than 90% of American households own or lease at least one vehicle."

For comparison, South Dakota has better quality interstate highways than the rest of the nation – at 84 percent – while only 15 percent of Hawaii's highways are in good condition. Rhode Island has the lowest auto fatality rate in the U.S. at 0.5 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, and West Virginia has the highest auto fatality rate at 1.6 deaths.

After Massachusetts, the remaining top 10 best states for drivers are Minnesota (No. 2); New Jersey and North Dakota (tied for No. 3); Utah (No. 5); Connecticut (No. 6); New Hampshire (No. 7); Wisconsin (No. 8); and Indiana and South Dakota (tied for No. 9).

You might want to pump the brakes in the 10 worst states for drivers: Louisiana (No. 50); Mississippi (No. 49); Hawaii and West Virginia (tied for No. 47); Montana (No. 46); Arizona and Oregon (tied for No. 44); Maine (No. 43); New Mexico (No. 42); and Arkansas (No. 41).

smartasset texas driving