Personally, I didn't do a garter belt, I just didn't want to.
The sand ceremony WAS original. I don't know about where you come from and what your weddings are like, but I had never been to a wedding where a sand ceremony was done before. It was new to all of my guests, and since I have never been married, it was new to me. It was a special reading that I picked out and it actually made everyone cry because it was so beautiful.
Other options that I don't see done in home town weddings are hand ceremonies, mayan blessings, the lasso thing (sorry, I don't remember what it's called), etc.