Designing a Headstone: What are Your Options?

Building a meaningful monument to a loved one is a huge responsibility. Designing a tombstone for a loved one is not a task we encounter every day. While finalizing a funeral plan may seem simple to some, others may not know where to start. With nearly a century of experience in handcrafting headstones, Heritage Headstones are a great resource for headstone engraving designs. With the guidance of our tombstone designers, we can help you choose the tombstone design that best represents your loved one.

Designing Graveyard Headstones for Graves: What Will Your Choices Be?

Once you've selected the slab type and marble or granite material for your tombstone, you can customize its design. Cemetery tombstones can be used to identify the deceased's name, date of birth and death, but they can also come with a bit of personalization, adding small but meaningful details to honor your loved ones and for those who go to the cemetery Provide some visual experience. This can include special artwork or meaningful anecdotes that a deceased or next of kin hopes.

Image photo

A symbolic image or series of photos on your loved one's tombstone will be special. There are many ways to combine this with our tombstone design tool. In our company, our expert artisans carefully etch designs into bronze or granite using machine-assisted techniques or their own hands. For full-color photos, ceramic images may be the most appropriate choice. If a photo is likely to be distressing, we recommend adding another photo image that represents the faith or passion of the deceased. For example, if your loved one is religious, you might consider adding a cross, the Star of David, or a pair of angel wings. Whatever you choose, our tombstone etching designs can help you honor the deceased in a meaningful way.

Engraving lettering

The font used to create the inscription can make a big difference to the overall appearance of a tombstone. When designing tombstones, the five most commonly used epitaph fonts are:

1. Classic Rome

2. Optimum conditions

3. Old English

4. Uncel Font Gothic

5. Zapf Chancery Court

Some types of fonts require a mason to make deeper cuts in sections and are more compatible with certain materials. Before you decide, you can consult a heritage tombstone expert for advice on inscriptions and materials based on your loved one's tombstone.

Tombstone color

Tombstones come in a variety of colors, so choosing the right one can seem a little intimidating. Some cemeteries have strict restrictions on the color and material of headstones. Before deciding to buy, we recommend you speak to the appropriate cemetery staff to ensure compliance. Granite is the most popular tombstone material because it resists weathering and retains its lustre for centuries. You'll find this particular option available in black, blue, gray, pink, red, and more. If your lover requests a bronze memento, you have several oxidation options. Over time, bronze develops a patina that varies from ancient green to light or dark brown. The experts at Legacy Headstones can guide you through all of this and more as you design a tombstone for your loved one.

Outline

The cuts and curves of your loved one's tombstone affect other design elements. When designing a tombstone, you can choose a rectangle, square, or spire. Some cemeteries require headstone bases to have curved edges to protect them from lawn mowers. If you can't find one that fits you, we can customize the silhouette and shape of your loved one's monument.

Dimension

Remember, all private and public cemeteries have headstone size requirements. Therefore, it is important to follow and comply with any rules and regulations. Standard dimensions for individual graves are usually 24x12, 28x16 and 18x24 inches. By contrast, burial graves are usually 36 by 18 inches or 44 by 14 inches. A stonemason from Heritage Headstone will be able to adapt your headstone design to meet the requirements of the cemetery of choice.

Design a Tombstone for Your Loved One

We fully understand that deciding how to design a tombstone can be a difficult, emotional process. That's where our experts can help. When you work with us, we'll guide you through the process, with expert tips for each step.

You'll find Legacy Tombstones offering a wide selection of tombstones and tombstone markings. Choose from our flat, upright and premium tombstones. With our online customization tool, you can save and make changes until you design a suitable tombstone. After the design is approved and purchased, the team at Legacy Tombstone will manufacture the piece to your exact specifications. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us and our courteous staff will be happy to assist you.