Bespoke headstones serve as memorial markers for our beloved deceased and allow those wishing to pay respects to be able to easily identify the grave.
Those who are grieving often find relief in providing the most beautiful headstone to honour their loved ones. This is why it’s a good idea to be aware of the different types of headstones available so that you can create a thoughtful headstone and memorial service that accurately reflects your lost loved one.
Here are some beautiful ideas for funeral headstones:
Personalised Inscriptions
A simple but effective way of honouring a loved one is by adding a personalised inscription to the headstone. There are many different types of inscriptions including dates, names, quotes, poems, lyrics and character traits.
Personal inscriptions provide you with a permanent message to honour your loved one and allow passersby to get a glimpse into the kind of person your loved one was.
Here are some more ideas for what to put on a personal inscription:
● Referencing life roles e.g., beloved wife, mother, daughter
● A short excerpt from a poem
● A personal message or quote from a loved one
● Your loved one’s favourite song lyrics
● Religious quotes
Some traditional lines when choosing the inscription on a headstone are:
● In remembrance of…
● Loving father and grandad
● Dearly loved, sadly missed
● Our little angel
● Remembered always
● Who fell asleep on (date)
● Sadly taken on (date)
● (Birth date and date of passing) Beloved mother and grandmother
● Dearest husband/wife and son/daughter
● Dearly loved father/mother
● Cherished son/daughter
● Much loved mother/father
● In loving memory of…
At Stewarton Memorials Ltd, we offer carefully crafted inscriptions to ensure that your message is clearly understood as intended.
Designs by an In-House Artist
Another option for creating a headstone that is memorable and unique is by using an in-house design artist.
The creation of a personal, individual tribute is a great way to express your feelings towards your loved one and can be extremely healing to the bereaved.
Musical instruments, beloved vehicles and football club crests are just some of the popular choices for headstone designs. It’s now possible to choose headstones that really express a loved one’s personality, reflecting their lifelong passions even after they’ve passed on.
At Stewarton Memorials Ltd, we have a talented in-house artist who will work closely with you to create the perfect way to remember your loved one.
Grave Plaques with Floral Accompaniments
Placing an elegant flower arrangement on top of a headstone is a beautiful way to honour the memory of your loved one.
Flowers are a traditional offering that many of us choose to leave at the resting place because of their symbolic meaning or aesthetic beauty.
Flowers are bright and colourful symbols of life and beauty, bringing a sense of joy to what is often a very dark time. They remind us of the beauty and brevity of life, which can help to ease the pain felt by the bereaved.
While you might want to embellish the headstone with your loved one’s favourite flowers or flowers that you think are particularly beautiful, it can be useful to know the meanings behind different types of flowers to help you create a more meaningful message to send to your loved one.
Rose
Renowned for being one of the most beautiful and elegant flowers, roses are a popular choice of flower for headstones.
Roses can have several meanings depending on the number and if the rose is in bud or bloom. The rose itself signifies love, hope and beauty. There are the different types of rose arrangements and what they mean:
● If there are two roses joined together, this symbolises a strong bond and is usually found on the grave of a couple.
● A wreath of roses represents beauty and virtue which can be appropriate for all headstones
● A rosebud indicates the grave of a child. A partial bloom is used to show someone who has died in his or her teen or early adult life - a life cut short
● A full bloom rose signifies someone in the prime of life
● A broken blossom, whether a rose or any flower, indicates that someone died too young
Acanthus
The thorny leaves of the acanthus symbolise the “prickly” journey of life to death, and ultimately the final triumph of eternal life.
They represent immortality and enduring life, implying that the spirit and soul of your loved one will be kept alive forever. This can be particularly comforting to the bereaved because it suggests that the loved one is always there, no matter what.
They are also incredibly beautiful with white outer petals peeping out from under a purple hooded leaf.
Lilies
Lilies are another flower which is commonly used to pay respects to loved ones.
Lilies symbolise innocence and purity. There are several types of lilies used on headstones, each with a slightly different meaning:
● The most popular is the Easter Lily, which represents resurrection and the innocence of the soul
● Lily of the Valley signifies innocence, humility and renewal
● The Fleur de Lis is a stylised icon of a lily representing the Holy Trinity
● The Daffodil, also of the lily family, indicates grace, beauty and deep regard. This is why daffodils are abundant in older cemeteries during spring
● The Lotus Lily is a form of water lily, representing purity and sanctity. The lotus in Buddhism signifies enlightenment
Sunflower
The sunflower is a popular choice of flower for headstones because it symbolises adoration, loyalty and longevity.
In the Catholic tradition, the sunflower symbolises devotion to the Catholic Church. The sun represents God’s divine light and the flower thus represents a striving toward God. Although Sunflowers face the sun when young, they permanently face east when fully grown, and this corresponds with the direction that Christian graves are orientated, towards the rising sun.
Thistle
The thistle is characterised by a purple or red flower that rests in a cup-shaped part of the step and has prickly leaves and thorns to protect it from plant-eating animals.
A thistle with its thorns can symbolise the Passion of Christ and earthly sorrow. Its roots are said to dispel melancholy.
Despite some of its more negative connotations, the thistle may represent a love that endures suffering. The Thistle is associated with the worldly love of Aphrodite as well as the loving compassion of the Virgin Mary.
It is also the national emblem of Scotland.
Orchid
Not only is an orchid arrangement beautiful to look at, but it also holds significant symbolism.
At a funeral, an orchid plant symbolises your everlasting love for the deceased. If you are giving an orchid plant to someone to express your condolences, it is recommended that you choose a white or pink orchid since these symbolise sympathy.
Statues and Ornaments
Statues and ornaments are beautiful additions to headstones which help to provide clues about the deceased’s religion, the level of mourning, and their family’s hopes for them in the afterlife. They can also reveal certain characteristics of the deceased's life when they were living - offering perfect clues to the lives of your ancestors
The type of statue or ornament you choose can be completely bespoke to the loved one.
Ideas of statues and ornaments for headstones include:
● An angel lying over the grave, weeping its sorrows for the special loved one
● An ornament of a car for someone who enjoyed automobiles
● A musical instrument the loved one played
● A lamb or hummingbird with a vacant chair denotes the loss of a child
● Rabbits are tied to the cycle of life, fertility, death and resurrection
● An anchor symbolises hope and eternal life and is often found on the graves of sailors
● A beehive represents faith and domestic virtues
Stewarton Memorials Ltd: Beautiful Headstones
At Stewarton Memorials Ltd, we know how important it is to provide professional and sympathetic service when you are going through a very difficult time.
This is why we provide everything you need when dealing with the loss of a loved one. From personalised inscriptions to gravestone restoration services, we are more than qualified to ensure all of your unique requirements are met.
We have a talented on-site artist who can create beautiful memoirs tailed to your individual requirements - no design or carving request is impossible.
We are also a family-run business with years of experience and have cultivated a strong reputation for handcrafted bespoke headstone embellishments throughout Lanarkshire and the wider area of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
For additional information or to speak to a member of our helpful team, please get in touch with us here today.
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