After someone you love passes away, a headstone will memorialize them for generations. There are many ways you can customize this monument to help celebrate their life and accomplishments. If you’ve never created a grave marker before, you may not know where to begin. To help you design a piece that will beautifully mark your loved one’s resting place, here are a few tips to guide you in the process. 

How to Design a Personal Gravestone

1. Carve a Message That Reflects Them

You have the flexibility to personalize the memorial with any text you want, so don’t feel like you must go the traditional route. To settle on a message, consider the personality of your loved one. This should guide you when it comes to selecting quotes, song lyrics, or Bible verses that showcase who they were.

2. Select a Color That Matches Their Personality

Most people picture headstones as a standard shade of gray, but this doesn’t have to be the case. You can create a tasteful memorial that is also a color that your loved one would appreciate. Shades like autumn rose, Bahama blue, and tiger verde can capture the essence of your friend or relative in a unique way. It can also make their memorial stand out, helping you find it from a distance. 

3. Consider the Setting

Cemeteries have different regulations about what headstones are allowed. These rules may even vary based on which section of the property the plot is in. Being aware of these restrictions helps during the design process and also ensures you avoid an issue down the road. Once you have a plan, visit the cemetery with a picture of your tentative design and a tape measure to make sure you like the way it looks next to neighboring headstones.

When you’re ready to start designing your memorialization, collaborate with the specialists at Tri-County Memorials in Waterford, CT. Serving those east of the Connecticut River, they work with families to make sure they get exactly what they want. They create monument stones, grave markers, and even perform cleaning and restoration for existing units. Learn more about their customization options online or call (860) 443-8744 to schedule an appointment.