Colin Cowie’s 4th Of July Soirees

If you're planning a 4th of July party, but want some new ideas for putting it together - look no further. Colin Cowie, celebrity party planner and the host of "Everyday Elegance" on the Women's Entertainment Network, visits The Early Show to share a few tips on how to turn your patriotic party from standard into spectacular.

The following are his tips:

Have fun When it comes to parties, Cowie's basic philosophy is that the host/hostess has a good time. He says if the host/hostess isn't enjoying the party themselves, then the guests notice and don't have as much fun, either. The key to achieve that he says is preparing and planning in advance, and he says to have a fabulous party there is no need to spend a fortune.

Incorporate everyday items into the party set-up Cowie’s advice is to use things in an unexpected and new way. An example is floral centerpieces – Though flowers are elegant and beautiful, there are other ways to ornate a table. It is just as effective to use fruit, vegetables or candles as centerpieces, instead. They don't cost as much money and they can be extremely colorful and enjoyable as an alternative to flowers.

Consider color as a major element Everything is usually tied together through one aspect of the theme, and in Cowie's case, this is often done with the color scheme. For the 4th of July, red, white and blue will be the main colors. However, he suggests not knocking people over the head with patriotism, or giving people what they would normally expect. So try mixing and matching the colors in new ways.

Pay attention to details Though food determines the party set-up and color scheme, incorporating small details that can give off a laissez-faire attitude will both put your guests at ease, while making you look like the hostess with the mostest. Some of these key details are music, drinks and lighting. When deciding these details, Cowie says to consider the circumstance and location for the party.

For an outdoor party, Cowie suggests three-foot high citronella candles to incorporate candles while also keeping annoying bugs at bay. Also freeze cherries into ice cubes to give his guests a little something special in their lemonade. And soak washcloths in lemon or lavender water, then wring them out and chill them in the fridge and serve them as a refreshing wipe to guests when they arrive or after dinner. These little touches are what Cowie believes makes all the difference - making your guests feel comfortable, making them feel as if it's no trouble for you to be having them over, while offering personal touches that they wouldn't get anywhere else.

The following are the party setups featured on The Early Show:

Clam-bake/poolside/patio set-up
Colors: red and white
Items:
Table - White table with a red umbrella
Chairs - Folding stools that have red seats.
Acrylic plastic plates and glasses
Plain red napkins
Side table for the clams,
Big, red and white speckled pot for the clams,
Red container for the lemonade,
Ice cubes with cherries frozen in them.
Two deck chairs with good suntan lotion

Picnic
Dominant color: blue
Items:
Table -Instead of having everything on the ground, consider having a piece of wood resting on two milk crates. This is so that everyone can enjoy the picnic and sit on the ground, but the food and rinks can be raised and it's a little more comfortable.
Tablecloth - Printed tablecloths made of brightly colored linen with big blue flowers,
Turquoise plates (real plates, not plastic)
Cobalt blue clear glass tumbler glasses
Solid blue napkins
Blue cushions on the grass all the way around for seating,
Centerpiece- A hurricane glass container with seashells inside, and then either a pillar candle or floating candle on top.

Barbecue
Colors: red, white and blue
Items:
Tablecloth- Ticking fabric for about $7 per yard and hemmed the two ends for the tablecloth. Napkins - Denim fabric with a sewed button on each corner. The napkins are going to be tied with a thin rope.
Plates – Could be either all white or red and white speckled.
Big wooden salad bowl made out of Indian-style wood.
Centerpiece - A tall glass cylinder vase filled with water with big Monsterra-leaves (large tropical leaves that you can get from any floral market and they're about $1 a leaf) coming out of it. There will also be an oval basket filled with fruit. Around the edges of the set, three-foot high blue citronella candles. Also a big zinc tub that has two sides - one side filled with sand and the citronella candles in it, and the other side with ice and drinks.
A tub with water and suntan lotion, etc.