Purchasing a headstone or grave marker is a relatively easy process, and will have a lasting impact on memorializing the deceased. In today’s market, the options are endless – from traditional stone to cast glass and even markers with video tributes embedded in them.
If you are already working with a Funeral Director, he or she can guide you to various monument providers – some local and some perhaps further away, but with unique remembrance options. Again, share your wishes with your Funeral Director and they will do their best to provide for you.
If you are looking for a marker independent of a Funeral Director, your best best is to search under “monuments” for providers. Look at what sort of monuments they provide, and materials used. Granite is the most popular, though there are many unique options available currently. Have the company show you actual samples, as sometimes what is described by a vendor is different from what the consumer envisions.
Select the size and shape of your monument, keeping in mind any restrictions that the cemetery imposes. The monument company should also review the restrictions to make sure the product is within the prescribed guidelines.
Decide what you would like to have on the headstone – some companies have limits on the number of characters inscribed, and if you want special designs inscribed, it may cost more. Be sure to check costs involved in the manufacture and placement of the monument.
Make sure to look at the final layout before anything is inscribed, as mistakes can be costly to fix.
On average, it will take between 4 and 6 weeks for the monument to be ready, sometimes longer if certain special elements must be manufactured. Once it arrives, be sure to check that all information inscribed is correct, and be sure to have the stone installed correctly by either the monument company or the cemetery.