Your Child’s Naming Ceremony

Here at Morden Park House we would like you and your guests to feel welcome and most importantly relaxed. This guide will give you some advice and will allow you to customise your child’s ceremony to make it personal to you and your family.

At the end of this guide, there is a customising form that you will need to complete and return to us at least one week before your child’s ceremony.

If you would like to meet the Registrar who will be conducting your ceremony, please telephone the office to arrange an appointment. Staffing is usually completed 4-6 weeks before the date of your ceremony. You are welcome to discuss any enhancements to your ceremony during your appointment with the Registrar or by e-mail/letter/telephone.

Telephone: 0208 274 5777

E-mail: register.office@merton.gov.uk

Important Information for your Ceremony

Room Capacity

Sheridan Room maximum 30 guests (all seated)Lord Nelson Room maximum 40 guests (all seated)

Ewart Room maximum 100 guests (all seated)

If more guests attend your child’s ceremony than the room capacity, they will be asked to wait outside until the end of the ceremony.

Fees

Fees must be paid three months before your child’s naming ceremony. Payment may be made by credit/debit card, by telephone or in person.

Perfect Timing

On the day of your child’s ceremony it is important to get the timings right to avoid delay and the possibility of disappointment.

We ask that you arrive 15 minutes before your ceremony to have one final chat with the registrar about your child’s naming ceremony. This ensures nothing has changed before the day of the ceremony.

The ceremony will last around 30 minutes, depending on the number of readings and personal promises you wish to include in it.

For families who have ordered buses, it is usually best to instruct them to arrive no later than 40 minutes after the start of the ceremony. This allows you time to take photographs before you leave.

Please note: Registrars are very busy and will normally be attending several ceremonies in one day. Remember to make allowances for traffic delays, parking and any photographs and inform your guests of this. If you are late, we may not be able to proceed with the ceremony as it could impact on another person’s ceremony.

Parking

Parking is available in the ‘Pay and Display’ car park in the vicinity of Morden Park House. (Free after 1pm on Saturday and all day Sunday).

There is limited parking at the side of the House for disabled guests. Please use the intercom at the barrier to gain entry.

Special Requirements

If there are any special requirements for either yourselves or your guests please discuss those with the office before your ceremony to enable us to accommodate these needs if we are able to do so.

Outline of your ceremon y

Introduction

Reading 1 (optional)

Parent Promises

Supporting Adult Promises

Grandparent Promises (Optional)

Reading 2 (optional)

Closing Words

Signing the Certificate

Presentation of the Certificate

Exit

Your Ceremony Choices

Entrance

You may like to enter the room after your guests have sat down or alternatively, your guests can join you in the room.

Music and Readings

Music and readings can be included in your child’s naming ceremony, provided they are not of a religious nature. Music is normally played while the guests assemble, during the signing of the certificate and when you exit the room.

Please provide us with a copy of your reading(s) and music (if on a CD) before your ceremony to ensure that they are appropriate. If you have any doubts over this please contact us and we can advise you further. You can chose to have a poem, an extract from a book or you can write something personal if you wish to. Please provide the name(s) of the person / people who will be doing the reading(s).

At Morden Park House we have a CD player. We also have the ability to plug any audio device with a headphone socket into the speakers. One of your guests will then need to be in charge of playing the music at the appropriate times.

Live music can be performed using non-electrical instruments.

We can provide music, but have a limited selection of CDs.

Promises

During the ceremony you will make promises to your child, before your chosen supporting adults, guests and the registrar. You are very welcome to give your child a gift at this point, to seal the promises you have made. There is a choice of five promises you can make to your child, these are listed below. You can also make your own promises to your child, to give the ceremony a personal touch. The promises do not need to be memorised as you will repeat them, a few words at a time, after the registrar. If you wish to make your own promises please attach them to the end of the customising form. You can also use both our promises and your own if you wish to. Both parents can make separate promises or one of you can make a promise on behalf of both parents.

Listed below, we also have promises that your supporting adults can say and also for grandparents. (the grandparents promises are optional, they do not have to make promises.) As before, if they wish to make their own promises and give gifts to your child during the ceremony, this is also possible.

Parent promises

1. I promise to teach _____________ right from wrong, how to love and show respect and how to be kind and tolerant of others.

2. I promise to keep ______________safe and always respect his/her decisions in life.

3. I promise to bring ______________ up in a home filled with love, kindness and tolerance.

4. I promise to be there in times of need, give all my love, support and advice and I promise to never judge you.

5. I promise to help you follow your dreams and always be there to offer guidance and advice.

Supporting Adult Promises

1. I promise to offer guidance and support to help you fulfil your dreams and desires.

2. I promise to be there in times of need, to be a good role model and always keep him/her safe.

3. I promise to always be there for _____________ I will always be trustworthy and I will be there to share any burdens he/she may have.

4. I promise to always look out for ____________to help encourage and support him/her whenever he/she approaches me.

5. I promise to watch over him/her as he/she grows up, to ensure that they grow up to be a happy and contented person.

Grandparent promises

1. I promise to provide ___________ with care and love and be there in times of need.

2. I promise to share my wisdom and knowledge to help guide you through your life.

3. I promise as a grandparent to always be there to offer shelter, to look after ________ as one of my own and to give as much love to him/her as I can give.

4. I promise to love, encourage and support ___________ whenever I am called upon.

5. I promise to be the best grandparent I can be and I will love you eternally.

Signing of the Certificate

The registrar will ask you to sign the certificate at the end of the ceremony. This is a memento from your child’s special day.

Supporting Adults

You can bring two supporting adults to your ceremony. Your supporting adults can be anyone you choose. It is your responsibility to provide them for your child’s ceremony, as we are unable to provide them for you. They do not need to bring identification.

Photographs and Videography

We are happy for one of your guests OR your photographer to take discreet photographs during the ceremony. You may video the ceremony provided the video camera is battery operated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we have more than two supporting adults?A: Yes you can, you can choose to have more if you wish.

Q: What happens if more guests attend than anticipated?A: For safety reasons, every room has a maximum number of people that can be accommodated. If your number of guests exceeds this, unfortunately some of them will have to remain outside. If your guest list increases we can change your booking to a larger room, if one is available. Any difference in cost will be payable at the time of making the change.

Q: How long does the ceremony last?A: The average ceremony takes between 30-40 minutes, depending on how many readings and other enhancements are included.

Q: What time should we instruct our onward transport to pick us up?A: Your transport should arrive to collect you approximately 45 minutes after the ceremony start time. Ideally your transport should be waiting for you as you all emerge from Morden Park House, ready to whisk you away to your celebrations.

Q: Can Morden Park House accept deliveries of flowers or champagne on our behalf?A: Unfortunately we do not have the facility to safely store any goods delivered in conjunction with your ceremony.

Pre-Ceremony Organiser

Ceremony Details

Date & time of ceremony

Venue of the ceremony

Number of guests

Names

Full name of Child:

Parent One: Parent Two:

Full name of first Supporting Adult:

Full name of second Supporting Adult:

Additional Supporting Adults:

Grandparent names:

Grandparent names:

Would you like to give an explanation of why you gave your child their name and the meaning of their name?(please include a copy of your explanation)

YES / NO

Explanation included

YES/NO

Entrance

(Please indicate as appropriate)

Parents and Child after guests? YES / NO

Guests to join parents and child in the room

YES NO

Ceremony

Parent Promises (please include any personal promises)

One parent says promise

Both say promise together

Both parents say different promises

Promise No: Promise No: Promise No:

Supporting Adult Promises (Please include personal promises)

Supporting Adult one Promise No: and/or personal promise

Supporting Adult two promise No: and/or personal promise

Gifts

Parents to child YES / NO

Supporting Adult to Child

YES / NO Grandparents to Child

YES / NO

Music

(Please indicate as appropriate, remember that the music must not be religious, if in doubt please contact us)

Method: CD* Ipod Live Music MP3 Player/Phone

While the guests assemble

Entrance of the family

During photographs

Exit music

Readings

(Please indicate as appropriate, remember that the readings must not be religious, if in doubt please contact us)

1st Reading Read by

2nd Reading Read by

* We are unable to guarantee that self-burnt CD will work in all our CD players

DIRECTIONS TO MORDEN PARK HOUSE

Take Northern line to Morden. Cross over the road and either catch a bus (No 80,93 or 154) to South Thames College or turn right and walk along the A24 for approximately 20 minutes to South Thames College. Take right turn immediately before the college buildings. Morden Park House is located at the end of this lane in the park.

By Rail (Thameslink)

Use Morden South Station, approximately 40 minutes from Blackfriars. South Thames College is almost opposite the station. See above.

By Road

From M25 (Junction 9) take the A24 signposted to Epsom and travel north in the direction of Morden. Approximately 8 miles further on you will pass a sign 'Welcome to Merton ' followed by a stretch of parkland on the left. Traffic lights are at the top of the hill with a lay-by on the left. South Thames College buildings are on the left beyond the lay-by. At the set of traffic lights immediately past these buildings turn left. Signs to the Register Office and Morden Swimming Pool are visible at this junction. Proceed to the end of the lane. Morden Park House will be visible and a pay and display car park is on the right.

From Central London travel through Wandsworth or Wimbledon until the A24 is reached. Follow the directions to M25 and Dorking. Ignore signs to Morden Hall Park as this is a completely different building. Follow A24, pass under the railway bridge and turn right immediately prior to South Thames College.

A member of the team will be pleased to assist if you cannot locate us. Please telephone 0208 274 5777.