A Fourth of July wedding needs to be a bit on the casual side. Plan for at least part of the reception to be outdoors, and make sure to include a tent in your plans. Lillian Vernon's portable, patriotic wedding gazebo offers perfect coverage for a small bar or hors d'oeuvres station. It's stocked with a complement of red, white and blue accessories.

Fourth of July centerpieces can include miniature flags, toy whistles, even boxes of sparklers - anything to conjure up the feeling of a good, old summer day. Invitations should be fun and festive and spell out all the details, such as fireworks display; even a parade! The dress should be daytime casual; add a line letting guests know if you'd like them to participate in the theme, noting that attire is patriotic or simply red, white and blue.

Food can run the gamut, too, from the aforementioned barbecue to a clambake complete with corn on the cob and lobsters - just stick to all-American favorites, and your theme will be complete. Fill galvanized tubs with lot s of ice and bottles of cold lemonade, cream soda and root beer and offer guests a bar serving blue margaritas, red-apple martinis and pina coladas.

As for those fireworks, check with the local fire department before you spend big bucks on pyrotechnics. There may be laws or ordinances banning such displays. A nice alternative: Hand out boxes of inexpensive sparklers to your guests and have everyone light up at a pre-arranged time. (Or have this "fireworks" display as a send-off to the couple when they leave the reception!)