This month I am delighted to introduce Catharine Fewtrell, (She/Her), who completed both our Funeral and Wedding Celebrant Training. Catharine was such a delight to work with and I am thrilled that she has recently agreed to be an Alpha Tester on a new programme I am creating. Her insights and approach will bring so much to future students. I am also sure she’s going to have a significant impact as a Celebrant, with her enthusiasm, dedication to serving others and natural ability. Catharine is based in Hook, in Hampshire, and covers the Southern Counties of England.
1. What made you think about becoming a Celebrant?
Catharine Fewtrell, Celebrant
I’ve been in roles where I was helping something or someone my whole life. I had the opportunity to train as a Registrar in 2019 but I found the approach to weddings very restrictive and linear. I wanted to know and understand the people I was telling the stories of – be it someone getting married, someone accepting a name or indeed someone who had died.
Everyone I have spoken to about being a Celebrant said the same thing ‘OMG you will be brilliant at that’! How can they all be wrong!?
Once I started writing (the bit I was most worried about) I found it easy! Being a celebrant feels like the most natural thing in the world.
2. You took our Funeral and Wedding Celebrant training courses. Why did you decide to both and were they what you expected?
Catharine Fewtrell, Celebrant
I started with Funerals and honestly, I absolutely love the chance to tell someone’s story, but more than that, find different ways of expressing their lives in creative ways. Once I’ve written someone’s story I always wish I’d actually met them.
In terms of weddings. I had planned to focus fully on Funerals but friends of mine were getting married and asked me to do a ceremony for the wider group. So I decided if I was going to do this, I must do it properly. Plus, by this time I was missing my Dinah time!
In terms of was it what I expected – yes and no. Yes because I had trained as a Registrar so I knew the basic premise of what would be expected of me as a Celebrant BUT Dinahs courses bring the role to life. She does so much for her clients, always beyond their expectations and I believe that training with Dinah has done the same for me. I’ve always been a giver and want to make sure that anyone I am working with feels they have had value for money – Dinahs hints, tips and experience are invaluable in this.
3. Tell us about how you see this role working along side your other businesses and the transferable skills that you felt helped you as you moved into your Celebrant role.
Catharine Fewtrell, Celebrant
In my career I have, first and foremost, looked after something or someone. Whether it be a gardener, a zoo keeper or a Personal Assistant, at the core of everything I do, I care. I want to make sure that whatever I am doing is for the good of whomever / whatever I am working with. I’ll put the plant / animal / person/s at the centre of whatever I am doing.
I want to connect with whoever I am working with – it always makes a better working relationship and in terms of Celebrancy, it makes the best possible ceremony.
I have enormous empathy – actually something I was a bit concerned about in terms of working in the Funeral business, but Dinah assured me that it would just make me a better Celebrant, and it has.
In my previous roles I had the opportunity for a great deal of public speaking AND event organisation, and those two aspects of my experience seamlessly fold into what would be expected as a great Celebrant.
I currently work in two part time positions which allows me the time and opportunity to work with individuals and couples on their unique ceremonies.
5. What was your favourite thing about your Celebrant training?
Catharine Fewtrell, Celebrant
Apart from spending time with Dinah? The way she built the course so if you followed it and did everything she asked you to, you ‘could’ hit the ground running as soon as you finished the course. She gives you all of her advice and experience, some of it hilarious, of creating and delivering ceremonies and the best thing is that they are conveyed in a fun and wonderful way. It’s a joyful way of learning.
6. What kind of ceremony are you most looking forward to creating?
Catharine Fewtrell, Celebrant
I think the important thing for me is that I know that ‘one size does not fit all’ yes, some people want an off the peg ceremony and those are probably not the people who will want to work with me. So often we are led to believe that a wedding should look like this, or a funeral must be like that, and it is simply not true. The important thing is that the ceremony should look exactly how you want it to be, and I want to help make that happen.
Recently, I created a ceremony where I talked to the couple about all the things they loved (this is always my approach to a wedding). I then made a number of suggestions that they could incorporate into their ceremony.
We created personalised ribbon for the hand fasting incorporating various images on it that referred to aspects that the couple loved. The Quaich cup to bring in the ‘Celtic’ angle AND as an aerialist I was able to bring my rig to the venue, decorate it and we made it into a flower arch.
After the ceremony, a number of the guests approached me and said that it was the most unique and personalised ceremony they had ever seen, this is obviously wonderful to hear but it all came from the couple – I am merely the delivery vessel!
7. Tell me five things about Catharine, the person, rather than the Celebrant.
Catharine Fewtrell, Celebrant
I am a Singer – I joined a 20 piece Jazz Orchestra years ago and discovered my voice. Since then I sing with a live band and also provide entertainment using backing tracks at various events in South East England (and any karaoke bar that will let me in!).
I am an Aerialist – what does that mean? It’s basically circus! I’ve been training aerial hoop for 15 years and decided to teach it. I love to teach – especially SEN and Autistic children (and adults) – everything feels like an accomplishment from up in the air!
I’m a Gardener – I love being outdoors and growing things – especially vegetables (easy things like tomatoes and courgettes which are such givers!)
I love animals and climbing trees – I am a 50 year old 12 year old!!
I love camping – it’s being outside, smelling all the smells, your sense of hearing is heightened and when you are in the middle of no where you can see the stars – glorious!
How do you relax?
Catharine Fewtrell, Celebrant
Cooking. Watching Agatha Christie (yes I am 85 years old and fine with it) and I love to stare into a fire, whether that be a fireplace or even better a fire pit sat outside looking at the stars.
Do you speak any languages?
Catharine Fewtrell, Celebrant
Yes, well apart from English I have spoken a number of languages BUT the trouble is that I don’t have enough RAM in my brain to keep more than two in my brain at the same time. Which ever language I am learning next will have the last one attempting to infiltrate it.
I love to connect with people and when I go to different countries I think it’s important to try and speak the language there.
My Grandmother said that ‘if you want to learn a language, take a lover in that Country and learn that way!’ She was an extraordinary woman.
You can connect with Catharine via her Website: Catharine Fewtrell Celebrant
or on Instagram: Catharine on Instagram