You could wet strips with alcohol to get a color shade preview.  I just mix them up rather than attempt a match - think random is prettier. I prefer clamps like the ones in Randy Folsoms book. Kind of slow going but no staple holes.

The U clamps that Nick uses are fine for getting a strip in place, but the real secret is the masking tape that he puts between the clamps.  That brings the strips tightly together.  Put a strip on one side and then move to the other side.  By the time you finish the second strip, you can remove the U clamps and tape and start another strip.  Watch his video on stripping the bottom of the hull to see the process.

I have found that staple holes are barely noticeable in dark-colored cedar-they look almost like a "natural feature-but much more noticeable in light-colored wood.