My name is Rachel. I live in the northern corner of New Mexico. My area is known for having a pretty river, a beautiful winery and great wildlife.

The dress I wore was a cream color with lace around the waist. It felt like it was made of the softest silk. The occasion was my sister’s wedding in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

I remember going to every store in Albuquerque looking for the perfect dress. The shoes for my dress were the worst. I had small cream-colored high heels. The straps had just a little bit of Velcro to keep the strap on the shoe. It was very hard to dance in them.

The wedding was beautiful. I remember my dress swaying as I walked down the rows of chairs with everyone looking at me, the flower petals rolling down my dress as I dropped them to the ground, and my mother’s tears of happiness falling from her eyes then hitting my dress as she held me.

Rachel Miles, Bloomfield, New Mexico