V Scroll down to view our collection of articles that will teach you everything you need to know about selecting and purchasing a monument to pay tribute to a loved one.

How to Choose Memorial Monuments

Monuments are some of the most important funeral products that you should consider if you want to create a permanent memorial in tribute to a loved one. Often families will erect one or more monuments to honor a deceased person. There are a number of different types of monuments that can be created and locations where they can be placed. However, monuments that are placed in a cemetery to mark the location of a grave are by far the most common type of monument. Cemetery monuments are often referred to as headstones, tombstones, gravestones, and markers.

If you are having a traditional burial for your loved one, choosing the monument is a very important decision. Not only is the monument a large purchase, but will also remain for eternity paying tribute to the person buried beneath. For these reasons it is important that the correct monument is selected. Below is some information to consider before choosing a monument for a loved one.

Benefits

Burial monuments offer a lot of benefits. For one, it allows you to identify the grave easily because it includes the name, date of birth, date of death, and other personal information about the deceased. Another benefit is that it keeps the memory of the deceased alive because you can choose to add a phrase or statement that the deceased believed in or represented. Or, you can engrave an image representing something that the person used to love when he or she was alive, like his or her hobby or interest. Finally, a monument adds beauty to an otherwise bleak grave.

Types

One type of monument is the flat grave marker that is placed lying on the ground. Another type is the upright memorial that stands upright from the ground. Both have personal information about the deceased. You can also add a statue, like a cross, an angel, or anything that symbolizes your loved one when he or she was alive. If you want something simple and less expensive, you can choose a grave marker that is mounted on the ground. In fact, some cemeteries only use a grave marker because it gives the cemetery a clean look. If you want something grander, a memorial or statue will do, although these two choices will cost you more.

Materials

Monuments can be made of many different types of materials. Granite is the most popular type of stone monument because of its beauty and ability to withstand the elements. Marble is the second most popular stone, but is more expensive than granite and slightly less durable. Metal is also a very popular choice for a monument. Bronze grave markers are often used because of their lower cost and the ability to personalize the marker with text and images. Brass can also be used as a grave marker, but is less common than bronze. There are numerous other materials that can be used as a monument, but metal and stone monuments are the most common because of their durability.

Read the articles below to learn more about how to choose a monument and what types of monuments are available to permanently pay tribute to your loved one.