6 Key Things to Consider When Choosing a Grave Marker
Are you arranging a burial after a cremation service in Colonie, NY? You may be surprised to learn getting a headstone is not as simple as walking into a shop and pointing at one.
There are several boxes to check, making the buying experience a bit more taxing than one might expect.
Nevertheless, you can choose a meaningful marker and potentially save valuable time and perhaps even money by keeping the following in mind.
1. Cemetery rules
If you are using a cemetery, you want to know what regulations they have concerning grave markers.
Some cemeteries allow all kinds of markers, some strictly permit only one material, while others, none at all.
The same applies to the style and size you can go for, so it’s only fitting to start by finding out the cemetery rules before anything else.
2. Grave plot
Speaking of size, you also want to consider that of the plot in addition to what the cemetery allows.
For instance, a cremation or a baby burial plot may not require as big a marker as an adult or couple grave. The garden or section of the cemetery you choose also plays a part.
3. Budget
Then there is the matter of affordability. Whether you are given a choice to select material and size at your discretion, or it’s fixed, there will probably be different price ranges available.
Think about the cost of buying your headstone and additional ones like setting fees and subsequent maintenance costs.
4. The deceased’s taste/personality
If you are ever torn between multiple choices, a way to narrow it down is to think about what the deceased would have preferred. Better yet, something that represents their life.
That’s one of the benefits of prearranging one’s funeral. Those who go that route can make their memorialization easier on their loved ones as they would have documented their choice beforehand.
5. Inscription/engraving
Have you ever been to a burial ground where most of the grave markers looked the same and wondered how people don’t mistake one for another?
Well, there are modern features that help, including GPS location. However, this is also one of the primary purposes of a grave inscription or epitaph.
Not only does an epitaph help identify who is who, but it’s also a way to represent the memory of the deceased concisely in writing—something for visitors and passers-by to remember them by.
Now, some cemeteries require specific engravings on a headstone or grave marker, such as a cross. Naturally, the deceased’s loved ones may also have their own thing to inscribe.
In all this, one has to consider factors like the dimension and material of grave marker allowed versus epitaph length and the practicality of engraving it.
6. Design
A way to double down on the uniqueness of a grave marker is through customization.
Most people use one form of emblem or the other. You can also personalize with a photograph and/or another artistic illustration of the deceased.
Remember to find out what customization options the cemetery permits and which one works best with the material you settle on.
If this sounds like a lot, the good news is you don’t have to do it alone if you’re working with a Colonie, NY cremation service or funeral home. Call us today or visit us to arrange a final tribute worthy of you or your loved one’s life.
