Things to Consider
Things to consider
Guiding You Through Every Detail with Care
Choosing a lasting memorial involves a few practical considerations, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Here are the key factors we will gently walk you through to ensure your monument meets all requirements while beautifully honoring your loved one.
Cemetery Rules & Regulations
Every cemetery has its own specific regulations regarding memorial sizes, styles, finishes, and granite colors. Before you finalize any design, our team will review the cemetery’s rules on your behalf so you can have complete peace of mind knowing your tribute will be fully approved.
Choosing the Right Style
Whether your family plot calls for an upright monument, a slant marker, or a lawn-level marker, we help you find the design that best fits your vision:
- Family & Individual Memorials: Some family plots feature a central family monument paired with individual markers for loved ones.
- Bases & Vases: Adding a granite base elevates the monument and can accommodate built-in flower vases for ongoing care and tributes.
- Memorial Parks: Please note that specialized memorial park cemeteries often permit flat bronze or granite markers only.
Selecting Granite Colors
Granite is a magnificent, enduring stone that comes in a rich variety of natural hues from around the world:
- Classic & Affordable: Beautiful, timeless options like Barre Gray, Canadian Pink, Mahogany, and Impala Black are quarried right here in North America and offer exceptional beauty at an accessible price.
- Vibrant Premium Shades: Hues like deep Jet Black or rich Indian Red travel from international quarries in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Their dark, polished surfaces create a stunning contrast when carved or etched.
Personalizing Your Design
Every detail on a monument helps tell a story. We help you balance meaningful imagery without overcrowding the stone:
- Carvings: Timeless symbols—whether religious motifs, military emblems, sports passions, or musical notes—add deep personal significance.
- Etchings: Crafted like detailed artwork or portraits directly on dark stone (such as Jet Black granite), etchings capture lifelike images of your loved one, special places, or cherished moments.
- Inscriptions: From names and dates to meaningful epitaphs, song lyrics, or heartfelt quotes, we help you choose lettering that reflects the true spirit of the lifebeing remembered.
Etchings
Etchings are like photographs or drawings that have been scratched into the polished monument. Most often, they are portraits of people or animals. Etchings are used when great detail is desired on darker stone, usually black granite.
Inscriptions
When designing a Carving for a memorial, you want to be sure not to overcrowd the design. Carvings should be of some importance to the person being honored. For example, a religious, military, or sports theme. Some families like carvings to involve music or other personal interests.