Island Hook Bracelet Unity Element
The Island Hook Bracelet is a great addition to your ceremony and is usually done after the ring exchange. Once put on they can be hard to take off, many couples wear them all the time just like they do their wedding ring.
Exchanging hook bracelets can also a great way to celebrate
a vow renewal rather than exchanging rings again.
Island Hook bracelets from http://www.stjohnlinks.com/WeddingGifts/hook-bracelet.htm Click on photo to see their website
The Island Hook Bracelet has been around for a long time and has its roots in The Caribbean.The best way to explain the origins of this custom is by sharing the folk lore below with you from http://www.stjohnlinks.com/WeddingGifts/hook-bracelet.htm This is also a fantastic site to buy your bracelets from!
The Island Hook Bracelet Original Legend By Shannon Sterling
“Once upon a time in
St. Croix, there lived a beautiful maiden who was head-over-heels in love with
her betrothed, a handsome seafaring man. This being in the time before
airports, resorts and jewelry stores, wedding rings were as scarce on the
islands as credit cards. Yet, she desired to present her beloved with a wedding
gift that would be a token of their pledged devotion.
Inspiration struck and she raided his tackle box for fishing hooks and heavy leader. The hooks she snipped and smoothed. The wire she wrapped and braided, and the original pair of Island Hook Bracelets were created.
On their wedding day, they each clasped a bracelet around the wrist of their chosen, the open hook toward their hearts. The tradition born that moment survives yet today.
If the open hook is worn facing the heart, you have the good fortune to have found your sweetie. Married or not, you are happily hooked. If worn reversed, good fortune will smile upon your every cast. One of these days, you are sure to reel in your heart’s desire.”
Inspiration struck and she raided his tackle box for fishing hooks and heavy leader. The hooks she snipped and smoothed. The wire she wrapped and braided, and the original pair of Island Hook Bracelets were created.
On their wedding day, they each clasped a bracelet around the wrist of their chosen, the open hook toward their hearts. The tradition born that moment survives yet today.
If the open hook is worn facing the heart, you have the good fortune to have found your sweetie. Married or not, you are happily hooked. If worn reversed, good fortune will smile upon your every cast. One of these days, you are sure to reel in your heart’s desire.”
Island Hook Bracelet Ceremony Wording
Officiant:
Groom and Bride will now exchange a traditional Island Hook Bracelet (Island love bracelet or Caribbean hook bracelet) this is a tradition that can be traced back to the Caribbean Islands. In many times rings were only for the very rich, while love knows no such bound. The bracelet was fashioned from metal and rope. The couple put the bracelets around each others wrist with the open hook facing toward their hearts. They did this to signify that they were “hooked” to each other in love, and the tradition continues today.
Bride and Groom please exchange and hook your bracelets.
Groom and Bride will now exchange a traditional Island Hook Bracelet (Island love bracelet or Caribbean hook bracelet) this is a tradition that can be traced back to the Caribbean Islands. In many times rings were only for the very rich, while love knows no such bound. The bracelet was fashioned from metal and rope. The couple put the bracelets around each others wrist with the open hook facing toward their hearts. They did this to signify that they were “hooked” to each other in love, and the tradition continues today.
Bride and Groom please exchange and hook your bracelets.
Photo of the couples hook bracelets from a wedding I had the honor to officiate
