What happens when the queen of flower crowns invite you over for tea? An explosion of stunning flowers, decadent desserts, and hand-made flowers crowns of course! Seriously though, how incredible is this table and can I have tea here everyday?! I met Christy Doramus, founder of Crowns by Christy, when we were both working in PR in NYC. Since then, she has created an incredible flower crown business, hand-making crowns for huge brands like SAKS, Flower Beauty, and Havaianas; been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Vogue, and Style.com {to name a few}, and even published a book! Read on as this FH Dinner Party Spotlight shares how she likes to entertain at home {where clearly she the inside scoop on where to get the best flowers in NYC}. And flower crown lovers, take note because she makes flowers crowns for brides, bridal parties, and more and ships all over the country!!

Q & A:

FH: Tell me a quick bio of how you came to start Crowns by Christy? Any fun details about your past that are noteworthy, details about your book, significant collaborations?

Christy: Crowns by Christy began as a passion project while I was working full-time as a beauty publicist about 3 years ago. I began making flower crowns and arrangements for client events and when word spread about my new hobby, I started creating pieces for friends of friends. I got so busy that I was lucky enough to turn my passion into a full-time business.

Last spring, I published a DIY flower crown book and have had the opportunity to work with so many amazing brands and media outlets over the past couple of years while growing my business. I love hosting DIY flower crown classes for private parties and recently have also experimented more with creative floral instillations for events.

FH: What is your entertaining style? Traditional, Contemporary, Seasonal? 

Christy: I love to entertain for seasonal occasions and holidays, but enjoy hosting brunches for my girlfriends and baby/bridal showers the most. These occasions allow me to embrace color and incorporate really fun elements, flowers, accessories and of course, flower crowns!

FH: How often do you entertain and for how many guests? 

Christy: Whether it be a casual cookout for 10 on our terrace, family dinner for 6 or girls brunch for 15, we generally entertain at least once a month – both in our downtown apartment and summer home away from home in Sagaponack, NY.

FH: Do you have a go-to recipe or dish {or do you avoid cooking at all costs}? 

Christy: I am really trying to become a better cook! When entertaining with my husband, we love to grill steak and always pick them up from the most amazing Japanese butcher on Great Jones Street. Recently, I have enjoyed creating a “make your own bellini bar” for the girls with 4-5 different flavors (peach, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry etc.) that can be mixed with champagne for an easy and fun cocktail. I generally incorporate a cheese board no matter what the occasion, which is 1. so easy and 2. always a crowd pleaser.

FH: Do you have a go-to cocktail? If you do, can you share the recipe!

Christy: Margaritas are my all-time favorite. In a cocktail shaker, just add 3 shots of fresh lime juice, 3 shots of tequila (I love Avion Silver), 1 shot of triple sec and ½ shot of agave nectar with ice and voila! You have small margaritas for 4 or larger margaritas for 2. Add sliced jalapeno and a salty rim made with “Slap Ya Mama” for spice.

FH: Did something inspire you for today’s table? A certain color, flower, plate? 

Christy: Yes! When I was a little girl, my mom let me pick out one pattern of china that she would later give me a piece of every year for my birthday, Christmas etc. No surprise, I chose the most floral-y pattern ever…  Royal Albert’s Old Country Roses.  I now have just about every piece from the collection, including the teapot from this shoot.

When I got married last year, I received some more modern pieces from Royal Albert’s Polka Rose collection which I wanted to mix with my existing Old Country Roses collection.  I have also been incorporating some pretty floral vintage plates from Spode I have recently came across in addition to some great floral china finds from Etsy. I thought that the mix these would make for the perfect Marie Antoinette-esque tea party, complete with fresh flower crowns.

FH: Table top… Share all the deets!!

• Plates: Dinner plate: Philippe Deshoulieres Orleans
• Salad Plates: Spode’s Jewel Copeland {vintage, but you can find them on etsy and here}
• Teacups/Saucers/Dessert Stands: Royal Albert Polka Rose {find tons here}
• Cake plate: Tiffany weave
• Placemats: vintage placemats from ABC Carpet & Home
• Table cloth: Sur La Table
• Vases: vintage and assorted from Jamali Garden Supplies
• Chairs & Dining Table: Chairs: vintage from Chairish; Dining table: ABC Carpet & Home
• Shoot location: NoHo, NYC

Follow Christy on her website, Instagram, and Twitter. And don’t forget to check out her book on Amazon!

Shop this floral look:

Photography by You Look Lovely Photography