Graduation Flowers NYC: Columbia, NYU, Hunter, Fordham — A Manhattan Florist's Guide
TJ Flowers & Events
By the TJ Flowers & Events design team — Manhattan florist since 1988.
Graduation in NYC Is a Six-Week Sprint
From mid-May through late June, Manhattan hosts more college graduations per square mile than almost anywhere in the world. Columbia, NYU, Hunter, Fordham, The New School, FIT, Cooper Union, Pratt, Pace, Baruch, John Jay — and dozens of high schools and graduate programs on top of that. Every weekend the city fills with families flying in for one of the proudest days of their lives.
Flowers are part of that day. For 38 years our Upper East Side studio has delivered to graduations across NYC. This guide covers what to send, where, when, and how to make sure your bouquet arrives at the right moment.
NYC Graduation Calendar 2026 (Major Ceremonies)
| School | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia University | Wed May 20, 2026 | Morningside Heights campus |
| NYU All-University | Wed May 13, 2026 (Yankee Stadium) | Yankee Stadium |
| Hunter College | Late May / early June | Radio City Music Hall |
| Fordham University | Sat May 16, 2026 | Rose Hill, Bronx |
| The New School | Late May | Madison Square Garden |
| FIT | Late May | Javits Center |
| Pratt Institute | Mid May | Brooklyn campus |
| Baruch / John Jay (CUNY) | Late May / early June | Apollo Theater / Carnegie Hall |
| High school graduations | Mid-late June | Varies |
Order at least 24 hours before the ceremony to guarantee morning-of delivery to the apartment or hotel where your graduate is getting ready.
School Colors — Use Them or Don't
Columbia: Light Blue & White
Bouquet idea: white peonies, light blue delphinium or hydrangea, white roses, sage eucalyptus. Wrap in cream paper with a light blue grosgrain ribbon. $175-$350.
NYU: Violet & White
Bouquet idea: white garden roses, purple lisianthus, white peonies, deep purple anemones with dark centers, eucalyptus. Wrap in cream paper with violet ribbon. $175-$350.
Hunter: Purple & Gold
Bouquet idea: gold sunflowers, white roses, purple delphinium, butter-yellow ranunculus. Cream paper with gold ribbon. $175-$300.
Fordham: Maroon & White
Bouquet idea: deep burgundy garden roses, white peonies, plum dahlias (in season), white ranunculus, dark foliage. Cream paper with maroon ribbon. $200-$400.
FIT: Navy & Gray
Bouquet idea: navy delphinium, white roses, blue eryngium thistle, dusty miller. Cream paper with navy ribbon. $175-$300.
"Just bright and celebratory" (no school color)
Honestly the most popular request. Bright yellow tulips, white peonies, blush garden roses, eucalyptus. Cream paper with ivory ribbon. $175-$300.
Where to Send the Flowers — Logistics
Best practice: send to the apartment or hotel BEFORE the ceremony
The graduate gets ready in the morning. Flowers should be there waiting — on the kitchen counter for photos, then carried to brunch or post-ceremony lunch. NOT sent to the ceremony venue itself (Yankee Stadium, MSG, Carnegie Hall don't accept flower delivery, and even if they did, the graduate can't carry a bouquet across the stage).
Timing
- Morning ceremony (10 AM-noon): Deliver between 7:30-9 AM
- Afternoon ceremony (2-4 PM): Deliver between 10 AM-noon
- Evening ceremony (6 PM): Deliver between noon-3 PM, but plan for a post-ceremony gift moment
Hotel deliveries
Most Manhattan hotels (Plaza, Pierre, Carlyle, Mark, Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons) accept floral delivery to a guest room. We coordinate with the concierge — they'll hold at the desk or deliver to the room based on the guest's preference. Call ahead to confirm the guest's name as it appears on the reservation.
Apartment deliveries
Most NYC apartment buildings have doormen who accept flower delivery. For walk-up buildings, leave detailed delivery notes (buzzer code, "leave at door if no answer"). We'll text the recipient when delivered.
Beyond the Bouquet — Other Graduation Gift Ideas
Sophisticated alternatives
- Single dramatic orchid plant — long-lasting (4-8 weeks), elegant, perfect for the graduate's new apartment. White phalaenopsis in a ceramic pot. $150-$400.
- Bonsai tree — meaningful, longevity-themed, good for graduate-school graduates. $200-$500.
- Succulent garden — low-maintenance for the busy new professional. $100-$250.
- Floral arrangement for the family dinner — celebration centerpiece for the family dinner after the ceremony. $250-$500.
Card Message Examples
- "Congratulations, [Name]! So proud of everything you've accomplished. Love, Mom & Dad"
- "You did it! Onward to whatever's next. — Aunt Susan"
- "Class of 2026 — couldn't be prouder. Love, Grandma"
- "From everyone at [Company] — congratulations and welcome to the working world!"
- "4 years, 1 diploma, infinite possibilities. So happy for you. Love, [Name]"
Keep card messages short. The moment matters more than the words.
Pricing
| Arrangement | Price |
|---|---|
| Compact graduation bouquet | $125–$200 |
| Standard graduation bouquet | $175–$300 |
| Premium graduation bouquet (school colors) | $300–$500 |
| Orchid plant (white phalaenopsis) | $150–$400 |
| Bonsai tree | $200–$500 |
| Family dinner centerpiece | $250–$500 |
| Manhattan delivery | $15 |
| Same-day rush (after 2 PM) | +$15 |
Working With TJ Flowers for Graduation
Our studio is on the Upper East Side, 6 blocks from The Carlyle and within 10-15 minutes of every major NYC campus. We deliver to Columbia, NYU, Hunter, Fordham, Pratt, and high school families across Manhattan and Brooklyn daily during graduation season.
To order graduation flowers, please contact our team or call (212) 628-1214. Allow 24 hours' notice for school-color custom bouquets; same-day available for our standard luxury arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you deliver same-day for graduation in NYC?
Yes — order by 2 PM for same-day Manhattan delivery. After 2 PM, rush delivery ($15 surcharge) available until 5 PM. For school-color custom bouquets, we recommend 24 hours' notice so we can source specific flowers.
Should I send flowers to the ceremony venue?
No. Yankee Stadium, MSG, Carnegie Hall, and other large venues don't accept flower delivery, and the graduate can't carry flowers across the stage. Send to the apartment, hotel, or post-ceremony restaurant instead.
What if I forgot the graduate's address?
Call us at (212) 628-1214 — we can deliver to the post-ceremony brunch restaurant or send a digital gift card with a same-day flower credit so the graduate can claim the arrangement when convenient.
Do you do school colors?
Yes — Columbia (light blue/white), NYU (violet/white), Hunter (purple/gold), Fordham (maroon/white), FIT (navy/gray), and any other school. Need 24 hours' notice for specific color matches.
What's the most popular graduation flower in NYC?
White peonies + yellow tulips + garden roses in cream wrap with ivory ribbon. Bright, celebratory, never wrong. $175-$300.
Can you deliver to multiple addresses (graduate + parents at hotel + family dinner)?
Yes — we coordinate multi-address deliveries on the same day. One coordinator handles the entire family's order.
One Final Note
Graduations are short, emotional, and forgotten the next day except in photographs. The flowers will be in those photographs. Choose something abundant, bright, and worthy of the moment.
To order, please contact our team or call (212) 628-1214.
