One hack to achieve a cohesive aesthetic without being highmaintenance is providing your guests a loose, seasonallyappropriate theme loose being the operative word here. Think Whites, Florals or even just Hats. Keep it easy for your guests by going with something they already have in their (or their roommate’s) closet. Scattering disposable cameras on surfaces around your space is a great way to encourage folks to engage with their surroundings (read: put away their phones). Bonus: you score some fun party photos without having to spend all night behind the camera yourself and/or pay a professional.

Keeping folks hydrated and comfy is paramount, but don’t worry about setting out an Instagramperfect pitcher of cucumber water. This can be as nofuss as setting up some plastic cups and a big water cooler next to the drinks station, or filling your bathtub and/or a big metal container with ice and water bottles. Keeping bugs away doesn’t have to be highmaintenance either. If you’re hosting a backyard barbeque, skip the extra labor of setting up torches or candles. Instead, just toss a bouquet of herbs (sage, rosemary, mint) on the grill as it’s heating up. This does double duty: the fragrance adds ambiance, and the sage will keep the pests at bay.

It’s also your job to make sure there’s always a drink in everyone’s hand. Fortunately, automated cocktail tech can do that job for you. Instead of building each cocktail from scratch, premixing your base so the libations are ready to go when your guests arrive and always available for them to reup on throughout the party. The batching process is easy—all you do is pour your spirits, juices, syrups and bitters into the reservoir and use the app to set the precise quantity of each drink. (You’ll just want to avoid batching any ingredients that should be served superfresh, like citrus juices or carbonated mixers). The result? Precise cocktails without the fuss or potential for human error, i.e. overpours.

Barsys allows you to batch a few signature drinks at once, and it’s critical to choose cocktails that perfectly match the mood you’re going for. For a summer gettogether with a classic chic theme, consider batching a traditional Margarita and Cosmopolitan. If you’re planning a lowerkey daytime hang, you can’t go wrong with refreshing cocktails like the Madras and/or Tequila Twilight. But honestly, all of the recipes from our Signature Mixlist are pretty adaptable to any occasion. If you’re embracing more of a retro vibe, go with a Bourbon Sidecar and a classic (read: not frozen) Daquiri—both drinks are a delicious blast from the past. Alternatively, keep things modern with a Caribbean Cooler, or bridge past and present with the Manhattan Twist, a modern update on a timeless classic, all courtesy of our Vibrant Classics Mixlist.