Martin Luther brought the Christmas Tree indoors.
But long before Christianity took root, people all over Northern Europe had been tying gifts on trees to celebrate MidWinter.
The gifts hung on trees might be for animals, small gifts to help the beasties when the weather turned cold.
They might be for passersby, hats or socks for folk who didn't have them.
This was a way of acknowledging the interconnectedness of the world.
The animals who lived outside were not all that different from the animals who lived inside with them for the winter.
(outbuildings were a bit further along in history!) Trimming an outdoor tree is a lovely tradition.
It signals our awareness that all of creation is connected.
So why not celebrate your winter wedding rehearsal dinner with a tree trimming? Planning: If you're going to do this, you need to plan for a slightly more casual dinner, or an outside picnic so that people can dress appropriately.
You can't move from cocktail dinner to winter evening comfortably.
And changing clothes takes a while.
So plan a hearty soup and Panini dinner some place where people can sit around andtalk to one another.
You need to be very clear in your invitations that this will be an OUTSIDE PARTY! Preparation: This party does take a little foresight and organization.
Get your friends to help! You need.

• Lights + Electricity if you're going that route.
  
• Candles that attach to trees.
  (Don't leave fire unattended.
  you must remove before leaving so no one else gets the bright idea of lighting!)
• Packets of seed and suet (friends might tie these beforehand!)
• An outdoor space with a great tree and room to assemble.
  (Do you need a park permit?)
• Water or sand to douse the candles in

Options:

• Thermoses of hot chocolate, mulled wine or cider, coffee or hot tea
• Song leader (holiday songs, do you need song sheets?)
• A bonfire to keep warm?

Meaning:

• The candles on the tree represent the stars that get caught on the branches.
  How like marriage this is: A sturdy pine that twinkles with light and sustenance.
  
• The activity acknowledges our communal connection to creation.
  

Process:

• Eat dinner and get fortified for the cold
• Explain the activity
• Dress up in warm clothes
• Troop outside and trim the tree
• Light Candles, sing, be amazed by the beauty of a candlelit tree on a winter's night
• Hold a lot of people's hands
• Go inside and eat dessert

Start a holiday tradition that you will want to keep your whole life long.
Send your guests home with instructions for making the suet packets and maybe a song sheet.
Mention the outing in your holiday wedding ceremony the next day.
Remind your community how dedicated you are to the celebration of holidays and the keeping of traditions as you make your wedding vows.
Know that your marriage and your love are starting a tradition in the life of your friends and making a difference to the animals.
Activities like this help sustain your marriage.
And if you listen very closely, you just might hear the animals speak on MidWinter Eve...