Custom Shaped Headstones in NJ: Hearts, Books, Crosses & Non-Standard Silhouettes

What is a custom shaped headstone?

A custom shaped headstone is a granite memorial designed with a silhouette or profile that goes beyond the traditional rectangular upright monument.

Customization can be relatively subtle, such as rounded corners, curved tops, sculpted edges or asymmetrical lines. It can also completely define the monument, with the granite shaped into a heart, open book, cross or another distinctive form.

Some families start with a traditional single upright headstone and customize its upper profile. Others prefer a monument where the entire silhouette becomes a central part of the design.

The purpose of choosing a custom shape is not simply to create something different. A successful memorial combines shape, proportion, granite, lettering, artwork and symbolism so that every element contributes to a cohesive design.

Popular custom headstone shapes in New Jersey

There is no single headstone shape that works for every family. Some designs are selected because of their symbolism, while others provide additional space for names, inscriptions, portraits or decorative engraving.

Among the most popular options are heart shaped headstones, book shaped headstones, cross shaped monuments, curved upright memorials and other non-standard silhouettes.

Heart shaped headstones

A heart shaped headstone is one of the most recognizable forms of personalized cemetery memorial.

The heart traditionally represents love, devotion and a lasting connection, making it particularly meaningful for couples and family memorials. However, it can also be used for an individual monument.

A full heart silhouette can become the primary shape of the stone, or the heart can be incorporated more subtly into the top of a traditional upright memorial.

For couples, families may also choose double upright headstones and incorporate heart-shaped elements into the overall design. This can provide enough space for two names, dates, inscriptions and additional artwork while maintaining a unified appearance.

Heart shaped headstones can also be personalized with flowers, religious imagery, portraits, meaningful quotes or other engraved details.

Book shaped headstones

Book shaped headstones offer a distinctive alternative to conventional upright monuments.

The stone is typically designed to resemble an open book, creating two visible sections that can be used to organize inscriptions. One side may contain one person’s name and dates while the other contains another, making this style particularly suitable for couples or shared family memorials.

The open book can also carry symbolic meaning. It may represent a person’s life story, faith, knowledge or the completion of a chapter.

Depending on the dimensions of the memorial, additional space may be available for epitaphs, religious passages, floral designs, portraits or other personalized artwork.

Because the shape naturally separates the monument into different areas, a book shaped headstone can provide both a meaningful silhouette and a practical way to organize multiple inscriptions.

Cross shaped headstones

For Christian families, the cross can be incorporated into a memorial in several ways.

Some families choose a traditional granite headstone with an engraved or carved cross. Others prefer a cross shaped headstone, where the granite itself is cut to form the religious symbol.

Cross shaped memorials can range from simple designs with clean lines to more detailed monuments featuring flowers, praying hands, scripture, portraits or additional religious imagery.

The amount of available inscription space is particularly important when designing this type of memorial. Because a cross has a narrower central area than a conventional upright monument, names, dates and epitaphs need to be carefully positioned.

Cemetery regulations should also be reviewed before finalizing a cross shaped headstone, as requirements regarding monument height, width, thickness and bases can vary between cemeteries.

Angel shaped headstones

Angel shaped headstones are another meaningful option for families looking for a more distinctive memorial. Angels are commonly associated with protection, peace, guidance and remembrance, making them a popular symbol in cemetery monuments and personalized memorial designs.

An angel shaped headstone can take several forms. In some designs, the granite itself is shaped to create an angel-inspired silhouette. In others, a traditional upright monument may incorporate carved angel wings, a sculpted angel figure or an angel motif as part of the upper profile.

Angel wings can also be used to frame the inscription area, creating space in the center for a loved one’s name, dates and epitaph. More elaborate designs may combine angel imagery with flowers, crosses, clouds, religious passages or etched portraits.

The design can be adapted for individual memorials as well as double upright headstones, depending on the cemetery lot and the family’s preferences.

As with other custom silhouettes, the complexity of an angel shaped memorial needs to be considered alongside the properties of the granite. Fine details, narrow sections and sculptural elements must be designed appropriately so the finished monument remains durable and suitable for long-term cemetery installation.

Cemetery regulations are also important. Some New Jersey cemeteries may place restrictions on monument dimensions, sculptural elements or non-standard silhouettes, so the design should be reviewed against the cemetery’s specific requirements before fabrication begins.

For families who want a memorial with strong symbolic meaning, angel headstones in NJ can provide a highly personal alternative to a conventional rectangular monument while still allowing room for custom inscriptions, artwork and other meaningful details.

Non-standard and unique headstone shapes

Custom memorial design extends far beyond hearts, books and crosses.

A unique headstone shape may incorporate asymmetrical curves, arched profiles, sculpted corners, stepped tops, flowing lines or other architectural details.

Some memorials use multiple pieces of granite to create a more dimensional composition. Others maintain a relatively simple overall structure while introducing individuality through the silhouette, carving, lettering or contrasting finishes.

Families creating a memorial intended to represent several generations may want to consider family monuments. These larger memorials can provide additional flexibility for custom shapes while allowing room for current and future family inscriptions.

The possibilities are extensive, but every design must still account for the dimensions of the burial lot, structural stability and cemetery requirements.

How custom headstones are designed

Creating a custom headstone often begins with an idea rather than a finished design.

A family may know that they want a heart, an open book, a religious symbol or simply something different from the traditional monuments they have seen.

That initial concept then needs to be translated into a memorial that works both visually and structurally.

Several elements should be considered together during the design process.

Shape and proportions

The proportions of a custom monument are essential.

A silhouette that looks balanced in a drawing must also work when produced at full cemetery monument scale. The height and width of the stone, base dimensions, granite thickness and available inscription space all influence the final appearance.

This becomes particularly important with more elaborate custom granite headstones, where changing one part of the silhouette can affect the visual balance of the entire monument.

Granite color

Granite color can significantly change the appearance of a custom memorial.

Different granite varieties create different levels of contrast with lettering, sandblasted artwork and etched images. Families can explore available granite colors and memorial materials when considering their design.

Dark granite colors can provide strong contrast for detailed etching, while lighter and more varied granite may be chosen for its natural appearance or to coordinate with other family monuments.

The final choice should take into account both the desired appearance and the type of engraving or artwork that will be used.

Lettering and inscriptions

The shape of a headstone directly influences how inscriptions can be arranged.

Names, dates, epitaphs, family names and religious text need to fit naturally within the available granite surface.

On an open book headstone, information can be divided between two sections. A heart shaped monument may require the inscription to follow the proportions of the heart. A cross shaped memorial may provide less central space and therefore require a more compact layout.

Planning the lettering at the same time as the monument shape helps create a more balanced final design.

Adding artwork, symbols and personal details

The silhouette is only one part of creating a personalized headstone.

Custom memorials can also incorporate floral artwork, religious symbols, landscapes, portraits, meaningful objects, emblems or decorative borders.

These details can help tell a more complete story about the person being remembered.

For example, a family might choose a heart shaped monument with roses around the inscription, an open book with a religious passage or a traditional upright headstone with a custom curved silhouette and etched portrait.

For Jewish families, memorial design may follow specific traditions and cemetery requirements. Families considering these options can explore Jewish monuments designed with appropriate symbolism, inscriptions and personalization.

The most effective personalized headstones do not necessarily contain the largest number of decorative elements. Instead, the shape, lettering and artwork should work together to create a memorial that feels intentional and personal.

Do New Jersey cemeteries allow custom shaped headstones?

Many cemeteries allow customized monuments, but cemetery rules vary throughout New Jersey.

A cemetery may establish requirements regarding:

• Maximum monument height and width

• Granite thickness

• Base dimensions

• Approved monument types

• Placement on the burial lot

• Religious or sectional requirements

• Number of burials represented by the monument

• Installation procedures

• Certain structural or decorative features

These regulations make cemetery approval an important part of designing a custom headstone in New Jersey.

A heart shaped monument that is permitted in one cemetery may require different dimensions in another. Some cemetery sections permit upright monuments, while others may only allow flat grave markers.

Requirements can even vary between different sections of the same cemetery.

Abby Rose Inc. works with families throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania and can help coordinate monument requirements before fabrication and installation. Families can also explore the cemeteries and areas we serve when planning a memorial.

Can an existing headstone design be customized?

Yes. Creating a personalized headstone does not always require designing an entirely new monument from the beginning.

An existing memorial style can provide a starting point and then be modified through changes to its shape, dimensions, granite color, lettering, artwork or decorative elements.

For example, a standard upright monument could be given a curved or heart-inspired top. A double monument could incorporate two connected shapes. A family memorial could use a distinctive central silhouette while maintaining a more traditional granite base.

This approach can be useful for families who already know the general style they prefer but want the finished monument to feel more individual.

How much does a custom shaped headstone cost in NJ?

The price of a custom headstone in NJ depends on the complete memorial design rather than the shape alone.

Several factors can influence the final cost, including:

• Monument size and thickness

• Granite type and color

• Complexity of the custom silhouette

• Amount of carving or shaping required

• Lettering and inscription length

• Sandblasted or etched artwork

• Portraits and additional design elements

• Base dimensions

• Cemetery requirements

• Delivery and installation conditions

A relatively simple curved-top monument may require less custom fabrication than an elaborate heart, book or highly detailed non-standard silhouette.

For this reason, families considering custom headstone designs in NJ should evaluate the complete memorial rather than comparing prices based only on the general monument shape.

Choosing a custom headstone that will stand the test of time

Personalization should also consider durability.

A cemetery monument is intended to remain outdoors for generations, exposed to rain, snow, sunlight and changing temperatures. Granite is widely used for permanent memorials because of its strength, durability and ability to support detailed lettering and artwork.

The shape itself should also be designed with long-term stability in mind.

Extremely narrow sections, complicated projections or unnecessarily delicate details may not always be appropriate for a permanent cemetery monument.

A well-designed custom headstone balances individuality with the structural characteristics of granite and the requirements of the cemetery where it will be installed.

Creating a memorial that feels personal

A meaningful memorial does not have to be elaborate.

For some families, a traditional upright headstone with a carefully designed curved top and personalized engraving may be the right choice. For others, a heart, book, cross or completely custom silhouette may better represent their loved one.

The most important consideration is that the design feels intentional.

The best custom headstone designs in New Jersey bring together the shape, granite, inscriptions, artwork, symbolism and cemetery setting rather than treating each element separately.

The result is a memorial that does more than mark a burial location. It creates a permanent tribute designed specifically around the person or family it represents.

Design a custom shaped headstone in New Jersey

If you are considering a heart shaped headstone, book shaped monument, cross shaped memorial or another non-standard design, Abby Rose Inc. can help develop a memorial that reflects your ideas while meeting cemetery requirements.

With more than 25 years of experience serving families throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Abby Rose Inc. can assist with monument design, granite selection, inscriptions, cemetery coordination and installation.

Request a memorial consultation to discuss your custom headstone design and explore the options available for your family.