Party Planners, Get Inspired By This Food Photographer’s Beautiful Rooftop Bash

Of the many, many, many things we love about this season, rooftop parties are probably right up there with cuttoffs and sundresses. Really, grabbing a perch in the sky (be it legal or otherwise) with friends (old or otherwise) and a fine, cool drink in our hands as the sun sets is a truly sublime benefit of hot, crowded city living.

To get inspired for a summer of high-altitude cocktails in time for July Fourth, we turned to someone who knows how to do the good life right. See, photographer Nicole Franzen doesn't just snap colorful images of the best food and drink for Bon Appétit, New York magazine, Food & Wine, Saveur, and many others, she brings what she sees back into her daily life through her blog (La Buena Vida, of course) and get-togethers with friends. This time, she commandeered the apartment of her BFF, Emily Johnston, a ton of limes, and copious amounts of Grand Marnier (supplied by our lovely partner) — to paint a picture of the perfect, rooftop margarita bash. We promise, just a few clicks into this slideshow of images shot by Franzen, Johnston, and their friends, and you'll be making a dash for the roof yourself.