5 Headstone Inscription Tips

If you’re planning a funeral service with a funeral home in Plymouth Township, MI, you’ll need to make decisions on different products related to the funeral and burial. One of these things is the gravestone. But you won’t only need to choose a material, a finish, and a style, you’ll also need to choose an inscription. Here’s a look at 5 tips for getting the right inscription. 

1. Don’t Rush 

A headstone constitutes a significant purchase. The worst thing you could do is make a rash decision. You need to take your time and ensure that the inscription is accurate. Once the engraving is done on the headstone, there’s no turning back. So when you come up with the inscription, you’ll need to make sure the information is accurate and that the message communicates the sentiments you want. That calls for taking your time, thinking things through, and dialoguing with your other loved ones. 

2.  Keep Things Simple

It’s also a good idea to keep things simple. You don’t want to clutter the gravestone, after all. That’s why it’s best to take the time to think out what you want on the gravestone. A short inscription and quote will usually work best. Ask the funeral director for tips, if you want. Also consider that getting a lot of engravings on the gravestone will drive up costs considerably. 

3.  Start Well

How should you start the written portion of the gravestone? Most people go with something like…”In loving memory”. It’s a common phrase on gravestones. But while it’s a safe bet, it’s hardly original. So you might want to consider using something less common. Examples include openings like the following: 

• Happy memories of;
  
• In memoriam; and 
  
• At rest. 

4.  Beware of Humor

While it’s good to have a good sense of humor, you might want to be careful about incorporating humor into the gravestone inscription. It might sound funny now, but will it still be funny in a couple of years? What about in a year? So while humor isn’t wrong, it’d best to avoid it. And if you do decide to incorporate humor anyway, you should get feedback from people you trust. 

5.  Consider Cost

It’s also important that you carefully consider the cost. Having a budget is a good idea. Once you and your family discuss how much you can all afford to pay for a gravestone, you’ll be able to figure out what price point you should be focusing on. The funeral director will be there to offer suggestions and to answer questions. So don’t hesitate to ask if you have questions.