Choosing a headstone for a loved one can be a confusing process. Below, we will take you through step-by-step to help you create a beautiful memorial for your loved one, or a lasting legacy for yourself.
The first step in designing a headstone is to choose the size.
Grass level or flat headstones are the standard in most cemeteries now. We offer flat headstones in two common sizes, detailed below. This style of headstone allows for beautiful memorialization in dozens of different border styles for individuals, couples, and even pets
Standard – 12″ by 24″ by 3″ – This is ideal for:
-Individual headstone for one person interred in a standard grave
-Companion headstone for two people who will be interred in the same grave
Small – 8″ by 16″ by 3″ – This is ideal for:
-Individual headstone for one person in a cremation space
-Companion headstone for two people who will be interred in the same cremation space
-An infant or child
-Memorializing a loved one in a garden at home
It will be very important to ensure the size of headstone you select will meet the section requirements of your cemetery. If you are unsure, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to assist you in determining what headstone would be best for the grave.
The second step in designing a headstone is to choose the color.
We currently offer two beautiful colors to choose from:
Sierra White®
Mesabi Black® Select
The above photos, courtesy of Coldspring, are examples of the two colors we currently offer. The photos are enlarged to show detail. For examples of what the pattern on whole stones look like, please see our design gallery. Each stone is unique, so the pattern may not be exactly the same as in the photos above. They will be stunning, though!
The third step is selecting a design.
We offer dozens of options for our designs in several themes, such as Faith, Nature, and Floral. For a full catalog of available designs, please visit our design gallery. If you do not see your faith represented in a design you like, you can always add an emblem to a design that conveys your faith, such as a Lotus, a Star of David, the Angel Moroni, and more!
We also are able to create custom designs. Do you have a vision for how the headstone should look but don’t see it in our gallery? No problem! Call or email us and we are happy to work with you on a one of a kind design.
The fourth step is choosing an inscription.
The inscription, or epitaph, is your opportunity to represent your loved one in the way you see fit.
Many people choose to put descriptors such as Wife, Mother, Grandmother, etc. Others draw inspiration from songs, movies, books, and more. We do have dozens of examples of inscriptions on headstones in our design gallery for you to reference and use if you wish.
There is no wrong choice for inscriptions. For keeping inscriptions legible, though, we do ask that your inscription does not exceed 75 characters for 12″ x 24″ stones or 50 characters for 8″ x 16″ stones. If you have an inscription that exceeds this, please call or email us so that we can see if a longer inscription is compatible with the design you have chosen. Please note, there may be an additional fee incurred for inscriptions that exceed the above limits.
The final step is choosing any add ons.
Many people choose to add an emblem to the headstone they design. While emblems are completely optional, this is often a way to represent a loved one’s hobbies, interests, career, etc. We offer dozens of choices, all shown in our design gallery. For individual stones, the first emblem is included in the cost of your headstone. For companion stones, two emblems– one for each person– are included in the cost of your headstone. Please call or email us if you wish to add more, as this will result in an additional charge of $25.00 per additional emblem.
We also offer optional porcelain cameo photos for an additional fee of $150.00. This is a great option if there is a photo you’d like added to the memorial, such as a wedding photo for couples or any other color photo of your loved one. If you do select this option at checkout, please email us a high resolution scan or digital photo to info@lostcoastmemorials.com with your loved one’s name in the subject line.