Headstones help mourners commemorate the life of a departed loved one. Dealing with grief is painful and takes time. While selecting memorial markers is not a task we take on happily, choosing graveside memorial is helpful during those first days of the grieving process. The three things to consider when choosing headstones and tombstones are cemetery restrictions, headstone suppliers, and the style of the memorial.
Many cemeteries have rules and regulations in place which restrict the type, size and materials for a headstone or grave marker. Ask the funeral parlor what type of headstone or grave marker they allow. Ask what the minimum and maximum sizes allowable are. Does the parlor have any color or material restrictions? These are all important things to know before ordering a headstone.
For the longest time the only sources for purchasing a headstone were from the cemetery and independent headstone/monument dealers. Over the years other related businesses have entered the market of headstone and grave marker sales. Ideally, your monument dealer should have knowledge, compassion, a high quality product, accessibility, and good customer service. It is often a good idea to ask a dealer for testimonials from their former clients.
Once you know what kind of headstone or grave marker can be placed on the grave and have selected a vendor, you can consider the different options you have in choosing a memorial. Materials, size, color, and most importantly, design, are the four key elements to consider. Think of the person for whom the memorial is being created. Within your budget, what kind of memorial would they appreciate?