Choosing a tombstone design that feels personal

Start with the person you are remembering

Before looking at individual tombstone designs, talk about what the family wants the memorial to express. A quiet, simple shape may feel right for one person. Another family may want a portrait, a cross, a distinctive colour or a message in a particular language.

Write down two or three details that matter most. This gives you something more useful than a general idea of “a beautiful stone” when the catalogue starts to feel overwhelming. There is no need to choose the most elaborate memorial for it to be meaningful.

Use the catalogue and installation gallery together

The catalogue helps you compare individual designs and their product codes. The installation gallery shows completed memorials from the COD team in their surroundings. Use it to see how an upright, base and personal details work together.

Photographs are useful references, but perspective and lighting can change how a stone appears. Ask for the actual dimensions and finish of your chosen design. If you like a detail from another installation, ask whether it is possible on the memorial you are considering and whether it changes the price.

Choose the appropriate size and form

Consider whether you need a single memorial, a double design or a baby memorial. Look at the whole structure, including the base, rather than the upright alone. Think about the space available for names and any future wording the family has already agreed to include.

Confirm the cemetery’s requirements for the specific grave before finalising dimensions or installation plans. Share any information you receive with the team. A photograph of the location and the cemetery reference can make that discussion easier.

Prepare the inscription with care

Start with the full name and dates, then add any words, symbols or portrait the family has chosen. Read the wording aloud and check it against the original information. Short inscriptions often need just as much checking as long ones.

For a portrait, provide the clearest original photograph you have and ask what reproduction is possible. Avoid relying only on a small screenshot if a better copy exists. Request confirmation of the layout and make sure the family’s corrections are collected into one final version.

• Check names, dates and spelling character by character.
• Confirm the language, punctuation and exact wording.
• Agree who will approve the final layout.
• Keep a copy of the approved inscription with the product code.

Bring your shortlist to the team

Save a few product codes and any gallery photographs that explain what you have in mind. Share the delivery location, your preferred timing and the amount you have set aside. We can then help you compare the appropriate designs and confirm the personal details.