There are very few bonds stronger than that of husband and wife. And when your life partner passes away, it may feel like a part of you has gone missing, too.
While your spouse may not be physically with you anymore, there is a way to ensure you’ll both be together forever in your final resting place—through companion or couples memorials.
Companion cemetery monuments are for two people who were very close, like a husband and wife or siblings. Couples memorials typically go over two side-by-side graves, and come in lawn-level, slant, bevel, monuments or benches.
Couples have a variety of personalization options available that will help create a memorial of distinction. Below, we detail six design considerations for husband and wife headstones.
A common design on a husband and wife headstone is a portrait. Either hand etched, laser etched, or a ceramic or porcelain photo, a memorial portrait adds a visual element for current and future generations to vividly remember their lost loved ones.
Companion memorial portraits can include two separate photos of the husband and wife, or one together.
Two separate photos of the husband and wife
One photo of the couple
Ceramic photos
What symbol represents you individually, or you and your spouse together? Perhaps you both enjoyed the outdoors and immediately thought of flowers. For others, your career may have come to mind first. Or you may have pictured a religious symbol after attending a place of worship together throughout your marriage.
Regardless of what came to mind first, adding a symbol to a memorial can represent you and your spouse’s life for all to see. Some commons headstone symbols include:
Here are a few examples of couple memorial symbols we’ve seen:
Inscriptions are one of the most popular design elements you will see on a memorial—single or companion. Ranging from phrases to quotes, dates or Bible verses, memorial inscriptions can be unique and special to the individual, husband and wife or surviving family members.
Husband and wife memorials often include a wedding date or a quote that describes their love for one another. Some of the most popular examples include:
>>> Related Resource: 25 Memorial Quotes For Husband and Wife Headstones
Oftentimes, loved ones define themselves in terms of family relationships. Family is what many of us consider a core value in life. Are you a grandmother, mother or sister? How about an uncle, brother or son? Similar to inscriptions, many couples chose to include their family “title” or relationships on their headstone.
>>> Related Resources: Memorial Quotes for Mothers and Grandmothers and Memorial Quotes for Fathers and Grandfathers
As the name implies, a custom-shaped husband and wife monument can be larger than other grave markers, but not always, and is an impressive sight in a cemetery. If you’re looking for a more eye-catching design, consider a custom upright monument in any shape or style that represents the life you’ve created together as husband and wife.
>>> Related Resource: Browse our monument gallery.
There may come a time in your life when your spouse passes away and you get remarried. Many remarried couples wonder, “Am I able to be buried with my new husband or wife as well?” Like every other aspect, there is no “right answer” to this. It is entirely up to you. Here are some options to consider:
Keep in mind the purpose of a memorial is to give family and friends a place to remember their loved one. This can be an extremely challenging decision and is often different from family to family.
Adding personal touches like symbols and meaningful inscriptions to a headstone is one of several steps in the headstone design process. Discover even more about memorial design, like headstone shape and granite color, in our Headstone Design Guide.