How to Choose a Headstone in Bala Cynwyd, PA

Start With the Cemetery and Gravesite

Before looking at granite colors or monument designs, confirm exactly where the memorial will be installed.

The cemetery, section, lot, and grave location can determine what type of headstone is permitted. Cemeteries may establish requirements for monument height and width, materials, foundations, placement, and installation.

These rules can also vary between sections of the same cemetery.

This is particularly important in historic cemeteries and larger memorial parks where traditional burial areas, family estates, mausoleums, and cremation sections may have different guidelines.

Starting with the cemetery gives the family a clear framework for choosing a memorial that can actually be approved and installed.

Choosing a Headstone at Laurel Hill West

Laurel Hill West, historically known as West Laurel Hill Cemetery, was established in Bala Cynwyd in 1869.

Its grounds contain monuments representing many different periods and styles, reflecting more than 150 years of local cemetery history. For families with established plots, the surrounding monuments or an existing family headstone may also influence the design of a new memorial.

A family may want a new monument to complement the granite, proportions, lettering, or overall appearance of other memorials within the plot.

Current cemetery requirements should always take priority, however. Before approving a design, families should confirm what is permitted for the exact gravesite and whether the cemetery needs to review the monument before production or installation.

Choosing a Headstone at Westminster Cemetery

Westminster Cemetery also has a long history in Bala Cynwyd, with origins dating to the 1860s.

Today, the cemetery includes different burial and memorial arrangements, from traditional ground burial to mausoleum, family estate, columbarium, and cremation options.

That variety means there is no single memorial type that will be appropriate throughout the entire cemetery. A traditional burial section may allow one form of monument, while a cremation garden or mausoleum area will have a completely different approach to memorialization.

Families should therefore confirm the specific property and its requirements before choosing a headstone.

Choosing the Right Memorial Style

Once the cemetery requirements are understood, families can begin comparing monument styles.

A single upright headstone is one of the most traditional options for an individual gravesite. Its vertical face provides room for the person's name, dates, epitaph, symbols, portraits, and custom artwork.

A slant marker provides an angled inscription surface while maintaining a lower overall profile. For families who prefer a simpler design, a flat grave marker may offer a more understated form of memorialization.

Couples or relatives sharing a family plot may consider a double upright headstone. These monuments provide a unified design while still allowing each person to have an individual inscription.

Where cemetery rules and plot dimensions allow, larger family monuments can create a central memorial for several generations.

The goal is not simply to choose the largest or most elaborate option, but to select a monument that suits the gravesite and provides enough space for the family's intended design.

Selecting the Granite

Granite is one of the most widely used materials for cemetery monuments because it is durable and available in many natural colors and patterns.

Traditional gray granite provides a classic appearance that works well with many monument styles. Black granite can create stronger contrast and is particularly effective for detailed etching. Red, mahogany, blue, green, and other granite varieties offer additional possibilities.

The granite should be selected with the complete memorial design in mind. Lettering, portraits, artwork, finish, and surrounding family monuments can all influence which stone works best.

Families can compare options on our Granite Colors & Materials page.

The final material should also comply with the requirements of the cemetery and specific burial section.

Planning the Inscription

A headstone inscription usually begins with the person's name and dates, but it can communicate much more.

Families may choose to include an epitaph, family relationship, religious passage, military service, or another short message that reflects the person's life.

The wording should be considered together with the size and proportions of the monument. A long inscription on a small memorial can make the design feel crowded, while a larger upright monument may provide enough room for text, symbols, and artwork without sacrificing readability.

Spelling and dates should always be checked carefully before the final design is approved.

Adding Portraits and Custom Artwork

Modern memorial design allows families to incorporate detailed artwork directly into granite.

Portrait etching can reproduce a photograph on suitable stone, while other designs may include religious imagery, landscapes, flowers, buildings, military emblems, hobbies, cultural symbols, or other elements connected to the person's life.

Our engraving services include lettering, sandblasting, etching, and cemetery inscriptions.

Personalization does not necessarily mean adding as many elements as possible. A single portrait, symbol, or carefully chosen image can sometimes create a stronger memorial than a design containing too many competing details.

Working With an Existing Family Plot

In cemeteries that have served families for generations, a new memorial often needs to work alongside stones that are already present.

A family may need to add a new inscription to an existing headstone, match the granite of an older monument, or design a companion stone that feels consistent with the rest of the plot.

Matching an existing memorial can involve reviewing its granite, lettering style, dimensions, finish, and artwork.

For older monuments, the condition of the stone should also be considered before additional inscription work is performed.

Review the Complete Memorial Before Production

Once the monument has been designed, the family should review it carefully before production begins.

Names, dates, epitaphs, artwork, portrait placement, granite, dimensions, and lettering should all be checked as part of the complete design.

This is especially important when reproducing historic family names, foreign-language inscriptions, religious text, or detailed artwork.

A headstone is intended to remain in place for generations, so taking additional time during the approval stage is worthwhile.

Cemetery Approval and Installation

The completed design may need to be submitted to the cemetery before the memorial can be produced or installed.

Depending on the cemetery, approval can include the monument's dimensions, material, foundation specifications, design, and placement. The cemetery may also have specific procedures governing installation.

Once approval and production are complete, the foundation, delivery, and setting of the monument can be coordinated.

An experienced monument company can help manage these stages so the family does not have to navigate cemetery requirements, production, and installation separately.

How Long Does the Process Take?

There is no single timeline that applies to every memorial.

The process can depend on the granite selected, complexity of the design, cemetery approval, production requirements, foundation work, weather, and installation scheduling.

A custom monument with detailed artwork or a less common granite may require more planning than a simpler memorial.

For that reason, families benefit from beginning the process early enough to review their options without feeling pressured to make important design decisions quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do first when choosing a headstone in Bala Cynwyd?

Start by confirming the cemetery and exact gravesite. The cemetery's requirements will help determine which monument styles, dimensions, and materials can be considered.

Can I choose an upright headstone at Laurel Hill West?

The permitted memorial depends on the gravesite and current cemetery requirements. Families should confirm the rules for their specific plot before selecting an upright or other monument style.

What memorial options are available at Westminster Cemetery?

Westminster includes traditional burial spaces as well as mausoleum, family estate, columbarium, and cremation options. The appropriate memorial depends on the type of property and cemetery section selected.

What is the best granite for a headstone?

There is no single best granite. The right choice depends on the desired appearance, lettering, artwork, cemetery requirements, and family preferences. Granite is available in gray, black, red, blue, green, mahogany, and other varieties.

Can I add a portrait to a headstone?

Yes. Portrait etching can be incorporated into many granite memorials where the stone, available design space, and cemetery requirements make it appropriate.

Can Abby Rose add an inscription to an existing family monument?

Additional inscriptions can often be added to existing cemetery monuments. The stone, available space, lettering, cemetery requirements, and condition of the memorial should first be reviewed.

Creating a Meaningful Headstone in Bala Cynwyd, PA

Choosing a headstone becomes easier when the process follows the right order. Begin with the cemetery and gravesite, understand the applicable requirements, and then select the monument style, granite, dimensions, inscription, and personalization.

Those practical decisions create the framework for the more personal part of the process: designing a memorial that reflects the individual and provides a permanent place for future generations to remember them.

Abby Rose Inc. helps families throughout Bala Cynwyd and Montgomery County with monument design, granite selection, inscriptions, cemetery coordination, and installation.

Explore our headstones and monuments in Bala Cynwyd, PA or contact Abby Rose Inc. to begin planning a memorial.

You can also read our local guides to headstones in Bala Cynwyd, PA and cemeteries in Bala Cynwyd, PA.