Designing A Custom Headstone
Posted on: 4 December 2020
A headstone is an important way to honor your loved one and designate their final resting place. A headstone represents the legacy of the person's life and provides a place for family and friends to visit and decorate the grave. Since it is a large responsibility to design a headstone, this guide will provide some of the basic ways to customize the headstone and the surround (the structure just in front of the headstone).
Headstones come in three primary types:
- Flat/Grass Level: These headstones lay parallel and flat to the ground, making them an economical choice. Most are formed in a traditional rectangular shape.
- Upright: These headstones sit perpendicular or slanted from the ground with a stone base.
- Custom shape: Beyond the traditional rectangular shape, there are many options for custom headstones that reflect the nationality, religion, or personality of the person. These unique designs pay a special tribute and will stand out among other headstones in a cemetery.
Concrete and granite are both optimal choices for headstones and surrounds because they are extremely durable and resistant to weather conditions. Concrete is strong with a low maintenance cost, while granite is a beautiful natural stone with unique variation in its coloring. Marble and limestone headstones are also seen in older cemeteries, but they show signs of wear as the stone ages, risking the legibility of the text. Hardier headstones are designed to last for centuries.
The details engraved on the headstone can be customized to the person in many ways. Here are some common details included on headstones:
- Name and Family Name: Many headstones have a large family name engraved at the top center of the headstone, with the name(s) of the deceased below.
- Birth and Death Date: Dates are important for record-keeping, genealogical purposes, and preserving the person's history.
- Quote: Including a quote, saying, or scripture relating to the person is a special way to connect a specific memory to the headstone. Some headstones include beloved titles of the person, such as "son, brother, grandfather, friend."
- Image: Specialized technology can etch highly detailed images into stone, so it's possible to include a picture of the person or memorable associated images on the headstone. Smaller embellishments, such as borders, flowers, and religious symbols add artistry to the stone at a lower cost than larger images.
Most cemeteries have guidelines for headstones and surrounds, so make sure to check that your design will be accepted at the gravesite.
For more information about custom engraved headstones, contact a local business, like Memorial Art Monument.
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