When a loved one passes away, it's tradition to mark their grave with a monument or marker that honors their memory and legacy. With a custom headstone, you can express your feelings for the deceased, not only at their funeral but also for generations to come. Use the guide below for help designing a custom grave marker.

Ideas for Designing a Custom Gravestone 

1. Personality

Create a lasting tribute that speaks to your loved one’s personality. Were they outgoing and expressive or quiet and demure? Consider their character traits when selecting the shape, size, and color of a headstone to ensure it's a reflection of who they were and how they would want to be remembered. 

2. Interests

A custom headstone should tell a story, communicating whether they loved to fish, sew, write, or sing. A headstone design can express any of these interests. In addition, consider their favorite quotes from songs, movies, or books, and use them when writing the epitaph—the inscription on a tomb or grave marker. Talk with the funeral director about custom marker shapes, styles of engravings, or images that can be used.

3. Cemetery Regulations

Many cemeteries have regulations that govern the types of grave site memorials that can be used to mark a burial place. If working with a third-party headstone designer, speak with the director of the cemetery to ensure your design adheres to guidelines for height, stone color, and material, whether granite, marble, or bronze. If possible, get a copy of restrictions in writing. Creating a custom gravestone that doesn’t meet a cemetery's requirements could result in a refusal to install it.

Design the perfect monument for your loved one with help from Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals in Morehead, KY. Since 1976, this family-owned funeral home has provided beautiful and moving monuments and headstones. With family, companion, and individual markers available, their caring and professional staff will work with you to develop something unique. Contact them today at 606-784-6491 to schedule an appointment, or visit them online to learn more about their services.