When a loved one passes, families often desire to honor their memory with a personalized headstone. A custom headstone, designed and created by true artisans, is a timeless way to memorialize someone we cherish. Monuments are a unique opportunity to tell the tale of the special life a mother, father, child, or veteran has lived. There are several ways to personalize a headstone. Let’s explore three popular options for how to personalize a headstone and make it reflect an individual.
1. Choose a Unique Stone Color and Pattern
Granite is the most popular gravestone material. It is durable, attractive, and available in various patterns and colors. It often comes as a revelation that granite is available in more than the gray, black, and rose you might commonly see while walking through a memorial park. Granite also comes in blue, green, mahogany, gold, and white.
The pattern of granite stone varies from solid to flecked or speckled and marbled. The surface finish can be honed to a flat appearance or polished for a stunning glossy look.
With a custom design, you are able to mix and match colors and patterns by using two or more stones to create a truly unique memorial. It is also possible to present with a combined honed and polished finish for a more 3-dimensional appearance that highlights certain areas and softens others.
And don’t limit yourself to granite, despite its undeniable longevity. Marble, limestone, quartzite, and concrete are other materials used for gravestones.
2. Think Outside the Box with Shapes
Depending on the particular cemetery rules and regulations, the sky is the limit with headstone shapes. While a simple cross or arch-topped slab is classic and reverent, there is an opportunity to create a distinguished design that is not ostentatious. Thoughtful and skilled monument craftsmen can bring your vision to fruition.
Stone is a surprisingly versatile material when it comes to sculpting and carving. Whether you want flying angel wings, a pyramid, freeform rock, or a modern juxtaposition of soaring vertical shapes, it can be achieved with the right tools and skillsets. A bench is another shape that is both creative and functional. You might also consider adding carved stone urns to the monument so that friends and family can plant seasonal flowers.
3. Tell a Lasting Story with Photos and an Epitaph
A great way to visually tell the life story of the person being memorialized is by inserting a porcelain photograph on the headstone. This isn’t a new technology, but the technique has evolved with the use of modern equipment and digital customization. The photo can be a portrait or a series of pictures showing life events and family members.
Adding a thoughtful phrase, such as a proverb, a verse from scripture, or a favorite quote can capture the unique personality of the person being memorialized. You may even want to add some humor that brings a smile to anyone who visits the gravesite. This engraved message can be in any font style you choose. An epitaph on a monument is a lasting memory of and tribute to your loved one.