Handfasting

Has anyone ever Incorporated hand-fasting into their ceremony before? My FH didn't like the idea of sand for a unity ceremony and i really like the idea of doing hand-fasting. You know "tying the knot". He absolutely loves the idea of it. If you have done it how many ropes did you use? Did you have the officiant tie them for you or did you have a family member or close friend do it for you? I was thinking of having both my niece and nephew do it but wasn't sure how to incorporate both of them into it? I still have plenty of time to figure it all out a year and a half but just tying to figure it all out ahead of time so i'm not rushing and stressing when i don't have to.