Designing Your Monument

Choosing how to memorialize your loved one is an important and often-times difficult decision every memorialist understands well. For many people, the number of options and possibilities available in crafting the perfect granite memorial may either seem daunting or, if this is their first experience with memorials, they may not even realize the multitude of color, shape, and design options.

See Your Monument Come to Life

At Heritage Monuments of Iowa, located locally in Muscatine, Iowa, we use the innovative TS Gold program to design your monument right in front of you, so you can see exactly what the final stone will look like on the screen before you commit. This cutting-edge technology allows you and your family to actively participate in creating a personalized, beautiful monument that reflects your unique preferences. With an extensive library of laser and sandblasting options, TS Gold makes it easy to customize shapes, colors, and intricate designs. No design experience is required, and within minutes, your ideas come to life, ensuring every detail is just the way you envision it.

The one thing we ask is that you NEVER be rushed into any decision! A granite memorial is forever, and feeling like you need to have it set in the cemetery by a certain date, or feeling pressured to make a decision is the one true way to not end up with exactly what you want. Our memorial consultants are here to support you through the entire process, no matter your timeline. So take your time and ask questions. We’re here for you.

The Steps of the Memorial Process

Step 1: Understand the Cemetery Regulations

This is absolutely the first step in choosing your memorial. Similar to homeowner’s associations, all cemeteries have rules and regulations concerning the style and size of memorials placed on their grounds. Some only allow lawn level grass markers, others require a minimum number of lots depending on the width of the base. Some have height restrictions. Although your local monument dealer will most likely be familiar with the rules and regulations of the destination cemetery, it is a very good idea for you to have a clear understanding of your plot(s) dimensions and any restrictions the cemetery may have. Knowledge of cemetery size, shape, and style limitations is critical in selecting the perfect memorial.

Step 2: Single or Companion

Now that there is a clear understanding of what can and cannot be placed in the cemetery, the next choice is usually whether the memorial will be for an individual or will represent a married couple or even a family. The constraining factor in this is typically the width of the plot/plots and therefore the base width of the memorial(s). Families may have 4-6 plots whereby individual stones may memorialize each person, or it may be their desire to celebrate the family as a unit and collectively erect a single large monument honoring that relationship.

Step 3: Uprights or Flat Grass Markers

Should your cemetery place no height restrictions on upright monuments you now have the choice of memorializing anywhere from 6 inches in height (called a BEVEL) all the way up to a sky scraping obelisk. Again the main restricting factor, outside of budget, will most likely be the width of the plot(s) which will determine the width of the base on which most uprights depend. Grass markers can still be adorned with images, laser etchings, and decorative artwork, but upright stones will offer a far greater opportunity for variation and creativity. You can see some of our most popular grass marker designs here.

Step 4: Shapes

Upright memorials come in a wide variety of shapes. Perhaps more than you ever expected. From traditional curved serpentine tops and round tops to custom shapes you imagined yourself. Want a memorial in the shape of your native state? It can be done. In the shape of a cowboy boot, lego block, giant book? Imagination is the primary limitation when it comes to shape. Learn more about shape options here.

Step 5: Colors

Granite comes in such a wide range of colors that no other stone can match its natural beauty when polished. Our Monument Counselors will guide you through the wide range of colors available and you will be able to see them rendered immediately through our TS Gold design program.

See our most popular color options here.

Step 6: Finishes

The finish of the monument describes the way the stone is cut which creates it’s texture and appearance. These can vary from a shiny polished finish to a rough-hewn rock pitched finish. You can learn more about basic monument finishes here.

Also considered part of this step are all of design elements we see on a finished stone. Fonts, font finishes, lithographs, laser etchings, and epitaphs are all part of this step. You can learn more about sandblasted finishes here, and more about laser etching here.

About Epitaphs

Did your loved one have a favorite biblical verse, stanza of poetry, or song lyric? Did they have a catch-phrase that all who knew them would attribute as their motto? Not all memorials bear epitaphs… but in choosing the perfect monument for your loved one it may be an absolute necessity.
Some ideas follow:

Not Lost To Memory. Not Lost To Love. But Gone To Our Father’s House Above.

Step Softly, An Angel Lies Here.

Your Love Will Light My Way: Your Memory Will Forever Be With Me.

To Live In Hearts We Leave Behind – Is Not To Die.

Those Who Knew Him Could Not Help But Love Him.

God Grant Him Eternal Rest.

Life’s Duty Finished, She Sweetly Rests

Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart, For They Shall See God

I Have Fought The Good Fight, I Have Finished The Course, I Have Kept The Faith

Just Resting… Until We Meet Again

Got ‘Er Done!

I’d Rather Be (insert hobby)

You Ought To See The View From Up Here!

In The Arms Of Angels

Live * Laugh * Love

We Lived Life To The Fullest With No Regrets

What A Beautiful Difference One Life Made

Earth Has No Sorrow Heaven Cannot Heal

I’m Home Again…Waiting For Y’all

If It Takes Forever I Will Wait For You

Godspeed My Love

Idea Generator Worksheet

Click below to download our ‘Idea Generator’ worksheet. This is designed to guide you through thinking about your loved one and how your memories of them might translate into a beautiful memorial.