alternative to unity candle & sand

I havent done it... but saw on 4 weddings were they mixed their own drink and toasted each other with it.

You could do a wine unity

heres a a link

http://www.officiantguy.com/wineceremony.html

or a rose unity

http://www.celebrateintimateweddings.com/roseceremony.html

I am with you on this. I have been trying to find something OTHER than those two as a lot of people do them. I have found these ideas thus far:

Rose Ceremony: A simple unity ceremony where the bride and groom exchange roses. Other variations: the families exchange roses, the bride and groom exchange roses with their families, the bride and groom exchange roses, then present their mothers with the roses.

I have been thinking about an abbreviated version of a ring warming ceremony. Instead of passing to ALL guests I am thinking of just passing to our our parents. Here is a little explanation and narrative: http://www.afceremonies.com/ringwarmingceremony.php

You can do a "handfasting" ceremony.

We felt the same way as you do about a candle or sand ceremony. We are hoping to encorporate the 7 steps of a Hindu wedding instead called the "Saptapadi". I'm not Hindu (my father is). We are not religious but we liked what the steps represented and we'll put a modern spin on them. We are designing our ceremony with the officiant's help.

You can also do something like this.

This is what we are doing during our ceremony

I am doing a celtic stone ceremony. You puchase an oathing stone and have it engraved with your wedding info. You hold both hold it and the old saying is it "sets your vows in stone" They sell the stones on etsy and you can look up the ceremony online. something different!

I like the God's Knot

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/gods-knot-cord-of-three-strands/450acbf695a46256.html

We did a water ceremony and had DH's 12 year old sister read the poem for it.

Basically you take blue water and yellow water to make green water.

It took all of 2minutes to completely...if you're interested, I'd be happy to post the poem.

There is also the salt covenant.

I've also had couples combine water and then water a small tree or plant.

Celtic stone reminds me of Pet Rocks LOL.

I saw a Four Weddings the other day where they did a unity cocktail two different colored drinks that mixed togeather make a pretty and tasty drink...I though it was a little silly, for a supper fancy morning wedding... but for the right wedding and mood it could be fun!

I love the idea of mixing a drink & toasting to each other !!!! a unity cocktail sounds great & i'm sure i'll feel the same way on the big day, lol !

& thank you all for the ideas! they are all great!

We are doing a unity cross. The outside symbolizes the man, the inside the woman and the 3 bolts symbolize the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

My FH and I are real dorks so we're having the friend we met through create a ceremony that involves rolling 20 sided die...

Plant a tree, or a seed and then water it together. The small plant or seedling representing the bud of your relationship that will grow and mature as you tend to it.