A Life-Changing Experience for FTD’s Intern with Ian Winner

FTD’s Intern with Ian contest provided an unforgettable opportunity for floral designer Jennifer Phillips of Blue Ridge Florist in Harrisonburg, VA. As the lucky winner, Jennifer spent three transformative days working with renowned floral designer Ian Prosser AIFD and his team at Botanica International Design Studio in Tampa, FL.

Jennifer’s Journey into Floral Design

Jennifer’s path to becoming a floral designer was far from traditional. Growing up in a small town, she and her twin sister would collect flowers from fields and roadsides, simply for the love of having fresh blooms around the house. Although she didn’t initially see herself as a florist, Jennifer always dreamed of owning a business. After co-owning a retail store and helping her sister with her flower shop, the spark for floral design was ignited.

Her transition into full-time floral design came after years of working as a Safety Director for a local manufacturer. Once Jennifer and her husband purchased Blue Ridge Florist, her passion for creating floral designs began to grow, especially in the wedding and event space. “Each day is a new opportunity to create works of art and interact with people,” Jennifer shared.

A Glimpse Into Jennifer’s Internship Experience

From the moment Jennifer arrived at Botanica, her internship was filled with hands-on learning. She started by touring the facility and quickly moved into designing floral arrangements for two large weddings. Over three days, Jennifer worked alongside Ian and his talented team, tackling everything from small arrangements to more complex and dramatic designs.

“Ian and his team took the time to explain various details of the coordination efforts on accomplishing so much work in a small window of time,” Jennifer said. The team’s well-organized workflow was a key lesson, with each person playing a critical role in ensuring the floral designs were completed on time and to perfection. Jennifer was also able to gain insight into the behind-the-scenes aspects of running a floral business, including product ordering, marketing strategies, and logistics.

 

The Wedding Magic

Jennifer had the chance to participate in two weddings that truly showcased the scale and creativity involved in luxury floral design. The first wedding took place at a historic venue, featuring aisle meadows, a triple archway at the ceremony site, and a stunning floral setup at the reception, including a 40-foot floral boa on the bridal table and elaborate bar arrangements. The second wedding included a chapel ceremony followed by a reception at an upscale restaurant with grand floral displays—everything from long dinner tables filled with flowers to a grand staircase dressed in smilax and flowers.

Ian’s Perspective: Why Jennifer Was the Perfect Fit

For Ian, offering this internship was a way to give back to the industry he loves. “Further education is so very important in our industry. It gives me such pleasure to pay it forward by offering an internship that allows individuals full access to me, including on-the-job experience,” Ian shared.

When asked why Jennifer was chosen as the winner, Ian explained,

“Jennifer was my choice as she seemed genuinely excited about the program and the industry as a whole. I felt she could gain a lot of experience that would help elevate her business in a way she felt comfortable with.”

Key Learnings from the Internship

Jennifer left the internship with five key takeaways that will undoubtedly elevate her business and floral designs:

1. The importance of planning and organization when working on large-scale weddings and events.
2. Valuable insights into marketing and business growth strategies.
3. A better understanding of product ordering and inventory management.
4. Techniques for creating large, impactful floral arrangements.
5. Tips for crafting a more stable, beautiful cascade wedding bouquet.

 

A Life-Changing Experience

Jennifer’s experience with Ian and the Botanica team was nothing short of transformative. “This experience was truly life-changing,” she said. The hands-on exposure to luxury wedding florals, combined with the business insights she gained, has opened up new possibilities for Jennifer’s future.

“I can take back so many new ideas that will help increase sales, create better arrangements, and streamline our processes.”

The Intern with Ian contest is just one of the many ways FTD helps florists grow and elevate their craft. We can’t wait to see how Jennifer’s experience will inspire her as she continues to thrive in the floral industry.

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