When a loved one has passed away, it is important that you think carefully about the monument design that you will use to remember them by. The stone could feature a simple design, with only an inscription, or it could feature a complex one, with a stunning custom appearance. The most important advice that we can offer you is not to rush, as a monument is meant to be lasting.
Step 1: Contact the cemetery to find out about any specific regulations that you will have to follow in regards to placing a monument on their grounds. This will often restrict the size, structure and colour of the stone.
Step 2: Pay a local monument design company a visit to check out their materials in person and to discuss with them your needs. This will help you to choose the stone you would like, as well as any finishes.
Step 3: Take a photo of your loved one with you, as this can act as an aid for helping you to remember the things that they cared about most in life. Were they a religious person or did they have a deep love for animals?
Step 4: Do some research on the internet to see if you can find a monument idea that you think represents your loved one. Otherwise, you can go with a standard square or rectangular shape.
Step 5: Create a meaningful inscription for the monument. You might like to choose a quote from their favourite author, poem, psalm or just a saying that you know they were fond of.
Step 6: Decide on the other information that you would like to include in the inscription, such as your loved one’s name, date of birth and year of death. You might also like to include their surviving family members.
Once you are happy with the monument design that you have come up with, you can take it back to the company you visited in step 2 and charge them with the task of creating it for you. Just make sure that you have double-checked all of the spelling and dates for the inscription and that you have adhered to cemetery regulations before proceeding.