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Stewarton Memorials

How to Personalise Memorial Headstones for a Touching Tribute

Updated: Jul 11, 2023

Losing a loved one can be incredibly hard to process and is no doubt one of the harder moments to go through in life. Given how special they are to you, it’s only right that you’d want to pay tribute to them and keep the memory of them living on. What better way to do this than memorialising them with a bespoke headstone?


Headstones and plaques are important ways of allowing people to identify where their loved one lays in rest so they can pay their respects, as well as commemorating the life they lived.


Everyone is their own person in life, with unique quirks and personalities, so why shouldn’t our headstones reflect that? It is possible to personalise these in a number of ways to do just that. We’ve listed some touching ways in which a headstone can be personalised.


Personalised Gravestone Ideas

Original Designs

Though they may be what you commonly see, headstones don’t have to be the standard rounded-square shape; if you wish to have a more unique design, then custom shapes can be made.


For example, you may wish to have the top or side of a headstone carved into the shape of a tree or an angel, or perhaps, if you’re looking for a headstone crafted for the unfortunate loss of a young one, the shape of a teddy bear.

The quality craftsmanship that goes into the making of headstones means there are endless possibilities that professional stonemasons could create for you, as long as they remain stable and strong enough to endure all sorts of harsh weather conditions


Along with the physical shape of a headstone, designs can also be carved and etched into them. Religious motifs such as an etching of the Virgin Mary may be used on gravestones for those who were devout Christians, whilst acorns may be used for those who are non-religious, to name a couple of examples.


Personalised Quotes & Lyrics

One of the most personal additions you could have within the epitaph on any headstone is the inclusion of quotes or lyrics. Music, film and literature resonate with many people in one way or another, often through inspirational lines, quotes or lyrics, or perhaps the overall concept elicited a resounding feeling within them.


People respond to different artistic forms in many different ways, and due to the personal nature of these responses, they can have great value significant to an individual - making them perfect to include on a headstone.

You may wish to include lyrics from the favourite song of your deceased loved one, a line from their favourite film or book, or perhaps a quote that reminds you of them or feel represents who they were as a person.


These are all great to include on memorial plaques, as well as headstones, when you wish to add a personal touch but are more limited on space to include any significant designs or motifs instead.


Flowers & Objects of Significance

For those who wish to pay respects to their loved ones with more subtlety, incorporating motifs that show particular objects of significance to them is an understated yet heartfelt gesture.


Flowers are perhaps one of the more common motifs seen incorporated in headstone designs, and one of the easiest to achieve effectively. This could be the design of a thistle to represent the Scottish heritage of the person being memorialised, or perhaps an intricate design of their favourite flower(s).

You don’t just have to stick to flowers, though, on the contrary - you can include almost any image you like (assuming it’s not notably offensive) to represent the person in question. To offer some inspiration, here are a few examples of what these could be:


● Musical notes and instruments (for someone who was a musician)

● Animals (e.g. a horse to represent someone who owned and rode horses)

● Hobbies (e.g. outline of people playing golf, or a fishing rod)

● Books or quills (for someone who was an avid reader and/or writer)

● The moon, sun and/or stars (for someone who was into their astrology)

● Boats (for someone who was perhaps in the navy or simply enjoyed sailing)


The possibilities are countless, and the meanings they can hold are abundant.


Photographs

Humans, as a species, are incredibly visual in our learning and processing of information - over half our brain is devoted to visual processing, in fact. It makes sense, then, that many modern memorials now include a photograph of people on their headstone.

Not only is this a way to vividly remember a beloved family member or friend when they have passed, but it allows future generations to connect with them, also. But, how do you get a lasting photo on a gravestone? There are a number of ways this can be done.

The first, is to have a photo etched onto the headstone. This is a great, detailed way to embed someone's face in a headstone so it looks like a cohesive part of its design.


For those who wish to have an even clearer image and want the choice between having it in black and white or in colour, ceramic or porcelain photo tiles can be made and attached to the gravestone. These are made by using special ink toners that print your digitised photo onto the tile, then it is fired in a kiln to set. It is best to use a clear, uncropped image with a neutral background for this that is not overly saturated, in order to get the best results.


Colours & Materials

As the name suggests, headstones are typically made out of different types of stone thanks to their durability, the most common being:


● Granite

● Marble

● Sandstone

● Fieldstone


Although, some other materials can also be used, such as slate or limestone, which may be chosen for their more rustic or weathered appearances.

As well as choosing which type and colour of stone you use for a gravestone, you are able to add elements of colour elsewhere.

When crafting headstones, special paints or gold leaves can be used to add colour within the lettering or etched designs. This allows you to further personalise a headstone to the person being memorialised; you may wish to incorporate the colours of their favourite football team, include a coloured design of their favourite flower or even just have a colour that represents what their personality was like.


Personalised Tombstone Prices

There are a number of factors that can determine the cost of how much a headstone will be, as well as taking into consideration the cost of any personalisation's.


Firstly, depending on whether you are buying a headstone for a burial in a churchyard or cemetery may factor into how much you pay.

Typically, headstones must adhere to certain regulations in churchyards. This is to take into account the historic character and public nature of them, meaning you may be limited on the size, material and inscriptions/designs of a headstone if you wish for a church burial - potentially affecting the price you’ll have to pay. There is guidance available on what is acceptable for a churchyard headstone.

Cemeteries tend to be much more lenient, however some will still have their own regulations on what is or isn’t allowed, so it is worth checking with your chosen cemetery first.


The next big factors that affect the price of headstones are the material used and the length of inscription. Porous stones, such as limestone or marble, are potentially the cheapest materials, though the price can vary and granite is not distinctively more expensive, meaning there is a lot of flexibility on which material you choose. Slate, however, is distinguishably the most expensive stone you could go for in comparison to the others that have been listed.


As for inscriptions, it is common to be charged a set cost per letter, so it is worth bearing in mind how long you plan on your inscription being in order to fit in with your budget. Although, it is still worth asking around for competitive prices, as not everywhere will work this way.

Finally, any extras that you add, such as large or detailed designs, colour and photographs will all factor into the price, so it is important to discuss the vision you have for a headstone first in order to get an estimate on how this will impact the cost.


Bespoke Headstones Lanarkshire

If you’re looking for bespoke funeral memorials, headstones and memorial plaques, Stewarton Memorials provides customers with beautiful, bespoke headstones to commemorate their loved ones the way they deserve.


All of our headstones are designed and hand-crafted in-house to the highest possible standard. We understand that this is a difficult time for our customers, which is why we offer personalised headstones at a fair price to ensure your wishes and expectations are not compromised - backed by our price promise guarantee.


Contact us today to discuss your personalised memorial design. We are proud to deliver superior, compassionate service to all our customers.


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