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Granite State Monuments
Your local monument dealer.

Selecting a Monument
The kind of stone you choose matters.
What are you looking for?
Memorials, Markers & Monuments
Slant Memorials
Upright Memorials
Special Shape Monuments
Pet Memorials
Flush Markers
Bench Memorials
Columbarium
Mausoleum
There are several things to consider
when selecting a monument.
Creating a lasting tribute for a loved one is a deeply personal and meaningful process. A custom headstone design offers a way to honor their memory with a unique monument that reflects their life, values, and the love shared. This journey involves thoughtful decisions about materials, inscriptions, shapes, and symbols that together tell a story meant to endure. In this post, I will share insights and practical advice to help guide you through designing a memorial that truly captures the essence of your loved one.
Choosing a custom headstone design is more than selecting a marker; it is about creating a legacy. Each element of the headstone can convey a message, evoke memories, and provide comfort to those who visit. Customization allows for personal touches that standard monuments often lack, making the memorial a unique reflection of the individual’s personality and life story.
When considering a custom headstone, think about the following:
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Material: Granite, marble, and bronze are popular choices. Granite is especially favored for its durability and timeless beauty.
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Color: Stone comes in a large variety of colors, from the traditional grey to the newly popular blues.
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Stone Surface: There are multiple finishes for stone monuments and memorials, most commonly seen are rock pitch (providing a more natural, rugged look), steeled finishes (providing a smooth, satin finish but not glossy) & polished finishes (smooth, shiny & glass-like)
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Style, Shape and Size: From traditional upright stones to flat markers or benches, the shape can symbolize different meanings or fit specific cemetery regulations.
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Inscriptions: An inscription is a short message, also known as an epitaph, that is usually added to a headstone along with a person's name, birth date, and death date. You have your choice of what it is that you want to write and the style it is in. Names, dates, and epitaphs can be carefully chosen to express sentiments or quotes that resonate deeply.
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Symbols and Imagery: Religious icons, floral designs, or hobbies can be engraved or etched to personalize the monument further.
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Rules & Regulations: If applicable, following the cemetery's rules & regulations is very important. Some cemeteries have rules about how many stones and what kind of stones are to be installed on each lot. There are also rules about flowers and decorations. Knowing the rules of the cemetery is helpful prior to starting the process of selecting which stone you want.
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Selecting a skilled monument maker ensures that these elements come together harmoniously. For families in New Hampshire and Maine, we can provide both quality craftsmanship and a sensitive approach to memorial creation.
How to Approach Custom Headstone Design
Approaching the design process with clarity and care helps create a meaningful tribute. Start by gathering ideas and reflecting on what best represents your loved one’s life and spirit. Here are some steps to consider:
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Research and Inspiration: Look at examples of headstones to understand styles and options. Visiting cemeteries or browsing online galleries can spark ideas.
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Consultation with a Monument Specialist: Discuss your vision with a professional who can advise on materials, design possibilities, and cemetery regulations.
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Choosing the Right Material: Granite is often recommended for its strength and variety of colors. Marble offers elegance but may weather faster. Bronze adds a classic touch but requires maintenance.
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Design Elements: Decide on the shape, size, and any additional features like vases or benches. Consider the inscription carefully—short and heartfelt messages often have the most impact.
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Personal Touches: Incorporate symbols or images that reflect hobbies, faith, or personality traits. These details make the monument uniquely personal.
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Review and Approval: Before finalizing, review the design proofs to ensure accuracy and satisfaction.
By following these steps, the process becomes manageable and meaningful, resulting in a headstone that honors the memory with dignity and love.
What does a penny left on a grave mean?
Leaving a penny on a grave is a small but significant gesture rooted in tradition and respect. This simple act carries different meanings depending on cultural or personal beliefs, but it generally symbolizes remembrance and connection.
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A Sign of Respect: Placing a penny shows that someone has visited and paid their respects.
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A Message of Presence: It can indicate that the visitor was there and thought of the deceased.
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Symbolic Value: In some traditions, pennies represent the continuation of life or a token of good luck for the departed.
This practice is often accompanied by other small tokens like flowers or stones, each adding layers of meaning to the act of remembrance. Understanding these customs can add depth to the experience of visiting a loved one’s resting place and inspire thoughtful choices in memorial design.
Practical Tips for Designing a Lasting Memorial
Creating a memorial that stands the test of time requires attention to detail and practical considerations. Here are some actionable recommendations to keep in mind:
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Choose Durable Materials: Granite is highly recommended for its resistance to weather and aging.
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Keep Inscriptions Clear and Simple: Overly complex text can become difficult to read over time.
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Consider Maintenance: Select finishes and materials that require minimal upkeep.
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Respect Cemetery Rules: Verify size and design restrictions to avoid future issues.
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Plan for Future Additions: Leave space for potential future inscriptions or family additions.
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Use Professional Services: Skilled artisans ensure quality craftsmanship and proper installation.
By focusing on these practical aspects, the memorial will remain a beautiful and meaningful tribute for generations.
Honoring Individuality Through Memorials
Every life is unique, and a custom headstone design should reflect that individuality. Whether it’s through a favorite flower, a meaningful quote, or a symbol of a cherished hobby, these personal touches transform a simple stone into a heartfelt story.
Consider these ideas to honor individuality:
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Incorporate Personal Symbols: Musical notes, sports emblems, or religious icons.
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Use Favorite Colors or Materials: Some monuments allow for colored granite or inlays.
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Add Photographs or Portraits: Laser etching can create detailed images on stone.
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Include Family Crests or Heritage Symbols: Celebrate cultural background or family history.
These elements help create a memorial that feels intimate and personal, offering comfort and connection to those who visit.
Creating a Cherished Legacy
Designing a custom headstone is a profound way to create a lasting legacy. It ensures that the memory of a loved one is preserved with care and respect, providing a place for reflection and remembrance. By choosing thoughtful designs and durable materials, families can be confident that their tribute will endure.
For those seeking expert guidance and quality craftsmanship in New Hampshire and Maine, partnering with a trusted local business like Granite State Monuments offers peace of mind. Our commitment to creating beautiful, lasting memorials ensures that each monument truly captures the unique story and individuality of the person it honors.
In the end, a well-designed headstone is more than stone and inscription - it is a symbol of love, memory, and the enduring bond that connects us across time.
Accessories
There are additional features you can add to your loved one's memorials to personalize it just a bit more!
Ask for more information on each product.
Cremation Urns
Discover our beautiful selection of crem urns, thoughtfully designed to honor your loved ones. Each urn is crafted with care, ensuring a lasting tribute that reflects unique spirit. Browse our collection and find the perfect urn to commemorate their memory. Click the link to explore and make your purchase today.
Reflections Urns Catalog
Flower Vases
Discover our exquisite collection of memorial vases, thoughtfully designed to honor the memory of your loved. Each vase serves as a beautiful tribute, providing a place for cherished flowers and heartfelt remembrances. through our selection to find the perfect piece that resonates with your sentiments and preserves lasting memories.
MetalCraft Vases
Granite & Marble Vases
QR Codes
A QR code on a memorial stone serves as a modern tribute, allowing loved ones to connect with cherished memories in a unique way. By scanning the code, visitors can access photos, videos, or heartfelt messages that celebrate the life of the individual honored. This innovative approach enhances the experience of remembrance, making it more personal and interactive. Embrace the blend of tradition and technology as you create a lasting tribute that can be shared for generations to come.
Sample QR Code Profile

Knowing your local cemeteries' rules is important.
We have developed & continue to develop professional relationships with local cemeteries. With time, we will gain stronger relationships with the managers of each cemetery. This is to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible throughout the entirety of the transaction from beginning to end, but also after the installation or service has been completed. We take pride in our work, and that never stops.
Each cemetery has its own set of rules & regulations. It is important to gather this information as early as possible, to ensure that the product that is ordered falls within their guidelines, such as the monument's size or allotted plot space.
If you have questions about the regulations, feel free to ask us as we may know the answer, or reach out the cemeteries' manager for more information.
Click the links below for a list of local cemeteries.
Contact Us Today!
57 Summer Street
Rochester, NH 03867
Office Phone: 603-332-6545
Cell Phone: 603-583-0238
