Memorial pre-planning is becoming more popular among families, with 69% of Americans showing a desire to do so. It’s a practical way to ensure your wishes are honored when you pass away and avoid passing the burden on to your loved ones.
Despite all the positives associated with pre-planning your memorial, there are a lot of customization details to think about to ensure you honor your loved one’s legacy. Our short guide will walk you through a few choices to consider during this process.
Why Is Personalization Important?
Your loved one has lived a life full of stories and meaningful moments that deserve to be remembered. By personalizing their memorial, you’re honoring their memories and making sure they’re never forgotten. Their memorial shares some of their stories with future generations and serves as a reminder of the impact they had when they were alive.
Custom Headstone Design Options to Consider
Now that you understand why it’s important to personalize a loved one’s memorial, here are a few things to keep in mind when pre-planning it:
Monument Style and Shape
For starters, you need to decide which style and shape would work best. From elaborate bench monuments to simple flat markers, you have choices that fit every taste and budget. Choose something that reflects your loved one’s personality, while also being mindful of your cemetery’s rules. Some may have restrictions on design elements, so always check their guidelines before making any final decisions.
Material Selection
Not all headstone materials are the same. Some materials, like granite or bronze, can last for decades without showing signs of wear. Others, like sandstone, can deteriorate much quicker and take a lot more effort to maintain despite the lower initial costs.
If you want your loved one’s memorial to look good for generations to come, invest in a headstone material that’s durable and can withstand the elements. You’ll save a lot more on maintenance costs and have the peace of mind knowing their memory is preserved for years.
Engraving and Inscriptions
Adding an engraving or inscription to a loved one’s memorial can be another way to personalize it. Most include basics like a name and date. However, you can take it a step further by adding their favorite movie quote, a religious symbol, or their favorite photo.
You also have the option to choose different font styles, finishes, and customized etchings to make the memorial stand out further. Some materials are better for this process than others, so keep that in mind when choosing your monument.
Pre-Planning With Eternal Memorials
Pre-planning a monument is more than just having the right design. It’s a practical and meaningful way to create something that truly reflects your loved one’s story while avoiding the stress and rushed decisions that often happen when you leave everything to the last minute. At Eternal Memorials, we’ve helped thousands of grieving families across Long Island and beyond through every step of the memorial pre-planning process. From headstone design to inscriptions, we can help you create something that honors your loved one for generations. Please contact us at 631-755-1200 to learn more about our services today.