Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Butler.
Hi Crystal, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve known since high school that I wanted to be a florist. My very first floral design class sparked something in me that never went away. That passion led me to BYU–Idaho, where I graduated with a degree in Horticulture with an emphasis in Floral Design. You can still receive an emphasis in Floral Design at BYU-Idaho today. I highly recommend it!
Halfway through my degree, I created my own internship on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, (all of the other internship were only local to Utah and Idaho and I wanted something different) where I trained with florist Carol Kimura. For three months, I lived on her mountainside farm, cutting tropical flowers with a machete, occasionally crossing paths with wild boars, and learning the art of design in her shed. I surfed on the weekends and learned to hula.
After Kauai, my journey continued to Guatemala, where I served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While sharing the light of Jesus Christ, I also had the chance to teach women floral design, blending my love of flowers with service. I will forever be grateful for my experiences there that brought me closer to my Savior!
Once I graduated from BYU-Idaho, I worked in many flower shops and then became both florist and wedding planner at North Hampton House in American Fork—a dream job for a single girl with big ambitions! I also launched my own business, Simple Petals, which has grown with me through every chapter of my life. Not long after, I decided to go on a work study abroad in Europe, living in Belgium and traveling to places like the coast of England (Torquay) as well as both Lyon & Dijon, France for 3 months. I studied under talented florists, often communicating with hand-drawn pictures and gestures when language was a barrier. Those months abroad were life-changing and shaped the florist I am today.
When I returned, I deepened my skills working in wholesale at Red Mountain and Mountain Bloom. Learning more about the local blooms offered in Utah as well as beyond. That’s where I met my sweetheart, Aaron, he was a delivery driver, and I was selling flowers. That moment bloomed into a marriage, three children, and a life full of adventures together. To this day, we both love to garden together.
Through the past 15 years of owning Simple Petals, I’ve been blessed to design for countless weddings, honor loved ones through funeral arrangements, and celebrate life’s biggest milestones—anniversaries, baby showers, Mother’s Days, and everything in between. I love that my business gives me the flexibility to be present daily with my kids while still doing what I love most.
Today, I also serve as the SLC BYU–Idaho Alumni Chapter Chair and work with A Bolder Way Forward, a nonprofit empowering women and girls across Utah with the tools they need to succeed in all aspects of their life. My focus is to help women & girls to build thriving businesses across the state. My faith continues to ground me—I love my church and neighborhood community, teach Zumba, grow and can my garden veggies, worship in the temple with my husband, and share God’s love wherever I can.
Floral design isn’t just my career—it’s my calling. I feel grateful every day for the beauty, faith, and love they allow me to share.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life is never a smooth ride. But isn’t that what makes it fun?! I’ve learned that the bumps in the road are often where the most growth happens.
From the very beginning, I had pushback about choosing floral design as my career. People told me it wasn’t a wise path, that the industry was too full, and that there was no future in it. One of my most vivid memories was when I was trying to line up my internship in Hawaii. My dear roommate, August, was always cheering me on, but there was a man on an island who told me to give up—that my dream would never happen. His words stung, and for a moment I almost believed him. But thanks to my faith in God, I didn’t give up. I pushed through the negativity, created my own opportunities, and proved to myself that I was meant to do this. Every adventure I chased came with challenges. Later, I dreamed of Europe, determined to study under some of the best florists in the world. But plans didn’t always go smoothly—some florists backed out at the last minute, and I found myself in foreign countries where I didn’t speak the language and had no place to stay. I learned to adapt, to trust strangers who became dear friends, and to rely on creativity and courage as much as on design skills.
Sometimes, though, the hardest voices to silence weren’t from the outside but from within. Self doubt has made it difficult to take my business to the next level. I’ve had to remind myself again and again that if we follow our passions, we can build them into something greater than we ever imagined—sometimes in ways and timing we don’t expect.
My biggest struggles came as I started my family. Motherhood has given me my greatest joy, but it has also brought some of my deepest trials and darkest days. I will never forget the morning after a blood test my doctor called to tell me that I was dying from HELLP syndrome and needed to get to the hospital immediately. My baby was going to be born 1 month early. I was terrified, rushing to the hospital, not knowing if I would survive—yet still trying to hold on to my commitment to a bride whose wedding I had promised to design the following week. On the way there, I called a dear friend, Angie, who is a very talented Florist and asked her to step in. By some miracle, the client met the news with patience and trust, and I will always be grateful for her grace in a moment when everything in my world was unraveling.
That experience was just one of many. I faced 3 complicated, life-threatening births, severe postpartum depression, and even a rupture in my C-section that led to years of infertility. Eventually, IVF brought us another miracle child, but it also ended with a diagnosis of Placenta Accreta and an unexpected moment on the operating table when I learned I would never have more children, as the doctor removed my uterus in an emergency c-hyst.
There were so many moments when the weight of it all—pregnancy complications, illness, recovery, depression, and the constant tug-of-war between being a mom and a business owner—made me think about closing the doors to Simple Petals. But I never could. Even in the hardest chapters, flowers reminded me that beauty is always worth holding on to. Keeping this business alive has been my way of choosing hope, again and again. I have had to learn that it is ok to have a break, some years with only a couple clients the whole year taught me to go with the flow and remember that God is in charge.
Those moments taught me gratitude, resilience and trust in God’s timing. They reminded me how fragile and precious life is, and how blessed I am to be alive, to raise my three beautiful children, being with the man I love and to continue pursuing my passion for floral design.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but it has been worth every step. Every challenge—whether professional, personal, or physical—has shaped me into who I am today. I wouldn’t trade the struggle, because it gave me the strength, perspective, and resilience to build the life I once only dreamed of.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Simple Petals, my philosophy is simple: “Everyone Deserves Beauty That Feels Personal.” Every arrangement I create starts with a person in mind. I don’t believe in cookie-cutter designs—each piece is custom, reflecting the individual, their story, and the moment being celebrated.
One thing that truly sets me apart is my education and experience. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Floral Design from BYU–Idaho—something very few florists can say. Beyond that, I’ve studied floral design across the world, from the mountains of Kauai to the coasts of England, the markets of France, and the flower farms of Utah. Those experiences exposed me to diverse techniques, styles, and cultural traditions that have shaped my approach. They allow me to pull inspiration from many different influences while still keeping each design deeply personal to the client.
I believe flowers are meant to be personal, not predictable. So I don’t confine myself to any one style, but embrace a variety of trends as it speaks to my clients. My role isn’t to impose my style but to help clients bring their vision to life.
I also believe that beauty should be accessible to everyone. That might mean choosing carnations instead of calla lilies because of budget, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful—it makes it meaningful and intentional. My clients know they can have an open, honest conversation with me about their vision and what’s possible, and together we’ll create something extraordinary.
Through Simple Petals, I’ve been honored to be part of life’s most meaningful moments. Each one matters deeply. And I believe God places the right clients in my path, which gives me peace and confidence to stay true to my values.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the flowers I design—it’s the trust people place in me to bring beauty into their lives in a way that feels uniquely theirs. For me, Simple Petals isn’t just about arranging flowers—it’s about connection, love, and making sure that everyone can experience beauty that truly feels personal.
What are your plans for the future?
When I think about where I want to take my business, I know it’s not just about flowers—it’s about people. That’s why I recently stepped into a new role as the Entrepreneurship Coordinator for A Bolder Way Forward, a nonprofit that empowers women and girls across Utah. In this position, I get to combine my experience as a business owner with my passion for helping others see what’s possible for themselves.
I’ve learned firsthand how hard and beautiful it is to build something from the ground up, and I want other women to feel that same sense of possibility. My hope is to be a guide and a connector—to help women get the right training, make the right connections, and have the confidence to pursue their own ideas. For me, this is about more than just business. It’s about showing women and girls that their dreams matter, and that with the right support, they can absolutely create something of their own.
At the same time, I want to keep growing Simple Petals in a way that allows people to see the heart behind what I do—the stories, the celebrations, the challenges, and the triumphs. Every arrangement carries meaning, and I believe sharing those stories can connect people to something deeper than just flowers. My hope is that both through my nonprofit work and through Simple Petals, I can continue to inspire, uplift, and remind others of what I believe at my core: “Everyone Deserves Beauty That Feels Personal.”
Pricing:
- Everyday Bouquet Wrap $100
- Large Vase arrangement $250
- Wedding flowers – pricing varies – email for ranges
- Custom Funeral spray $300
- Call/text for more quotes
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thesimplepetals.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/simplepetals
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/simplepetals
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/crystalyman
