It's helpful to make dips ahead, like Strawberry Yogurt Dip, along with cutting out cheese or fruit star shapes, and making a 4th of July Snack Mix in advance.
Before serving, assemble by placing larger items, including containers, on the board first. Then add items according to color and size, varying the colors and textures across the board. Finally, put the finishes touches on the board and fill in the gaps with small items like nuts and berries.
Notes
Havariti Cheese Stars: Slice cheese and cut i into stars with a 1-2 inch star-shaped cookie cutter.