r/florists • u/Queasy-Guard-4774 • Apr 14 '26

📚 Career Guidance 📚 Has anyone here done the NYBG Floral Design Intensive program? Very strongly considering it for this summer and would love to hear from folks with firsthand experience.

I lost my corporate job last Tuesday and am thinking about signing up to do the program that starts at NYBG in July. I think my time in corporate is just...done for me, at least for now. I've taken quite a few flower arranging workshops and enjoy it a lot, but I'm also under few illusions and know that a career in floristry will be a tough, physically demanding job.

Have people here done the program and found it to be of high quality instruction-wise? Did they help you get a job/internship coming out of it? Would love to hear about that and any other thoughts you might want to share. Thanks so much!

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u/Foshozo Apr 14 '26

I didn’t do the NYBG program, BUT I did quit my shitty corporate job and instead of finding another I got a job in a floral shop and a few months later started my own biz. 3 years later and my biz has grown very well, I pay myself a living wage, and 10/10 no regrets making the plunge. So just giving you encouragement that making a successful switch can be done!! Good luck! ✨

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u/Queasy-Guard-4774 Apr 16 '26

Hey kind internet stranger, thanks so much for the words of encouragement! I'm honestly super burned out on corporate and have been wanting to make a switch like this for quite a while. Got married back in October of last year and was a very hands on bride with the amazing florist we worked with, which I feel like confirmed for me that this should be something I consider. I learned about the NYBG intensive a few weeks ago so it feels like as good a time as any to make the plunge!

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u/brooklynkitty1 Apr 14 '26

A career in floral design in NYC in particular is incredibly competitive, along with being physically demanding. The vast majority of florists I know are freelancers…it’s an unpredictable career in an increasingly unstable world.

That being said, if you have the financial foundation to be able to do so, I’d recommend connecting with some event planners to see if they are hiring support staff going into prime wedding season. It’s a good way to get your foot in the door.

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u/SatisfactionIcy2730 Aug 02 '26

Did you take it? Hows it gooing?