Help! Rims on my civic?Need advice!

Ok guys/ladies,
I have a 1996 honda civic ex. I love the car. I have decided to put rims on it though and im rather new at the whole rims/tires thing. I want 17 inch rims...preferable crome....but I dont know what all there is to do? Do i just get rims and remove the old ones and add the new ones or is there more to it than that? Can i put 17's on a civic without making body modifications? What are the pros/cons of chrome vs polished silver. I want my ride to look tight and it's all factory...except for the tint. Advice guys....lots of advice, thougts, comments, insults...lol...anything at all would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

~David