funeral homes in Lakewood, CO
How to Make Your Loved One’s Headstone Unique

When making your funeral arrangements with funeral homes in Lakewood, CO., you are going to want to make the services personal and unique to them and their life. Many people carry this idea further by creating a headstone for their grave that is also very unique and customized to their loved one. If you would like to create a headstone that is one-of-a-kind for your loved one, there are many ways to do so. We are going to explore some of the most common design elements you can customize for your loved one’s headstone.

Headstone Shape and Design

One of the most prominent features of the headstone is its shape. With modern cutting and carving techniques, headstones can be shaped into just about any shape and design imaginable. Whether the family prefers a more traditional and elegant design such as a square or rounded top shape, other families may opt for something more free-flowing and choose a wavy or curvy design. Some other options for shapes include:

  • Oval with checks
  • Oval with shoulders
  • Ogee top
  • Half-round
  • Peon with checks
  • Offset peon top

Choosing the Headstone Color

The color of the headstone is the next design element to consider as it will make the most impact after the shape. The color choices will most likely depend on what material you choose but colors can often be found including rose, green, gray, black, red, and more. You can also choose to have the headstone include more than one color.

Font Choices

Not only will what is written on the headstone convey information such as your loved one’s name, date of birth, date of passing, etc., but will also affect the overall design aesthetic of the headstone.

The font you choose will play a part in the feel of the monument. For example, if you choose a curvy, cursive font, it appears to be more elegant and classy. While a very strong block font will give the appearance of being very rigid. Whichever font you choose, you want to make sure you do not sacrifice legibility for design. The font may look great, but if you can’t read what the words say, then go with another choice.

Additional Elements

Adding additional elements can really make the headstone unique to your loved one and stand out. Some additional items you could add include:funeral homes in Lakewood, CO

  • Portrait engraved directly on the stone
  • Sculptural elements such as a heart, cross, bird, angels, wings, etc.
  • A porcelain image being applied
  • A Bench added to the headstone
  • Vases included in the headstone design

Check With Your Cemetery

Before making any final decisions on the design of the headstone, always check with the cemetery first. This is because many cemeteries have rules on what is and what isn’t allowed. They may have regulations on what type of material the headstone can be or even what symbols are allowed. If you need additional help, headstone providers as well as funeral directors from funeral homes in Lakewood, CO. can assist you.

funeral homes in Denver, CO
A Guide to Porcelain Memorial Portraits

While once headstones only had options of what shape they came in as well as what was engraved on them, today there are several different ways families can personalize their loved one’s headstone. One such way is with porcelain portraits. These are wonderful additions as they can be added to the headstone at any time meaning that a family can add this personal touch to an existing headstone. As directors of funeral homes in Denver, CO. we often get asked about these embellishments so today we are answering some of the most commonly asked questions.

What Exactly is a Porcelain Memorial Portrait?

If you are not familiar with a porcelain memorial portrait, it is simply an image that is placed on a piece of porcelain and attached externally to a headstone. These porcelain portraits are made from a porcelain tablet that is baked to over 800 degrees Celsius. They are durable and stand up well to the elements. Due to their durability, many manufacturers offer a lifetime guarantee.

What Shapes and Sizes are Available?

Porcelain portraits can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some of the most popular shares are oval, rectangular, round, and heart-shaped. They can also be created in custom shapes. The same is true when it comes to sizes. Some providers may have standard sizes but these portraits can be made in custom sizes as well.

Are the Porcelain Portraits in Color?

Yes. While some families may choose to have the portrait created in black and white, these embellishments are available in color. While sometimes color is subject to fading over time, these portraits hold their color fairly well due to the fact the color pigment is added during the heating process making it very durable against fading.

How to Choose the Best Photo to Create the Portrait

While each porcelain memorial portrait provider may be able to offer slightly different options and/or services, there are a few things that are pretty universal when it comes to the image of the portrait. These things are:

  • The background can typically be removedfuneral homes in Denver, CO
  • Normally the image will need to be in a digital format and be a .jpeg file of at least 300 dpi
  • The colors of the end product may not match the photo exactly due to the pigments and the high temperatures they are heated to
  • It’s best to use the original photo if at all possible
  • Slight retouching and alterations can sometimes be done to the image
  • The image many times can be flipped (mirror image)
  • Black and white images can be colorized
  • The porcelain piece can be in the portrait or the landscape format

Final Thoughts

As directors of funeral homes in Denver, CO., we are often asked about ways to personalize services and headstones. We understand as you want your loved one’s final arrangements to be as unique as they were. Porcelain portraits are a wonderful way to add a personal touch to their headstone and show the world how wonderful your loved one was.

Immediate Need

303-425-9511

General Inquiry

303-502-9179

X