All headstones are a deeply personalized symbol of a loved one’s life. Each is uniquely crafted to celebrate those we have lost, while also serving as a place for families to remember their loved ones.
At Milano Monuments, we ensure each custom-made memorial is given the personal care and attention needed to turn your vision into a lasting tribute for your loved one—which is why the design process can take longer than expected.
Creating a personalized headstone can take anywhere from four to 12 months. From size and shape to material quality and customization, every detail impacts a headstone’s timeline.
Below we outline the six-step process memorial providers take to design, create and place headstones for families.
Step 1: Meet With a Stoneworking Professional
While some families aren’t ready to design a headstone right away, others want one as soon as possible after their loved one passes.
When you’re ready to have a headstone created, you will want to contact your chosen memorial provider to set up a consultation. At Milano Monuments, you can call our main location at (216) 362-1199 or fill out the contact form on our website to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment.
For the duration of your appointment, your chosen provider will:
- Help you navigate different headstone design options that may otherwise seem overwhelming to browse on your own.
- Work with you to design a headstone that best honors your lost loved one.
- Answer any questions you have about the headstone design process.
Step 2: Determine Headstone Design Elements
During your appointment, a memorial specialist will walk you through a variety of design elements you have to choose from. These personalization options are what truly make your loved one's memorial special and unique to them.
With memorials, every stone is unique and every detail is significant. Throughout the memorial design process, families have the opportunity to choose the following design factors.
Size and Shape
Memorials that are larger and more intricate often take longer to produce than smaller, simpler headstones. For instance, upright monuments with unique shapes require much more time to sculpt than a lawn-level memorial that sits flush with the ground.
Granite Color 
While almost any color of granite is available, some may not be in stock and will depend on the memorial provider’s inventory—this can extend the timeline for as long as it takes to get your chosen stone in-house. If you’re interested in a headstone or memorial immediately, choosing a common granite color, such as barre gray or mountain rose, may be your best option. To speed up the process, ask your memorial specialist about the current inventory they have available.
Lettering
To achieve different lettering appearances on headstones, a variety of engraving and etching methods can be used.
Symbols or Images
Symbols and images are yet another way to personalize your loved one’s headstone. Images of your loved one can be etched by hand or laser machine, or added as a ceramic photo. It is also common to have sandblasted symbols or designs on a memorial to represent what your loved one enjoyed (e.g. a book or cross).
Step 3: Payment and Approval
Once you’ve discussed your loved one’s headstone design, the memorial specialist will create a mockup of your memorial so you can see exactly what will be created.
However, before production can begin, your memorial provider will need some or all of the following:
- Memorial down payment. If you’re able to submit a majority of the payment upfront, the memorial provider will be able to move forward with production. Note: Milano Monuments is more than willing to work with families when it comes to payment options.
- Signature from a responsible party. Before moving forward with production, we want to ensure your loved one's memorial design meets your expectations. Because of this, we first ask that a family member or other responsible party signs off on the headstone mockup.
- Cemetery notification and/or approval. Most cemeteries require approval for new headstones and memorials. This typically includes a signature from the responsible party confirming the plot location, information and design.
Step 4: Cut and Matte Headstone Elements
After the headstone design has been approved, the memorial provider will move forward with producing your loved one’s headstone.
The approved design is sent to the pre-production team where they review and use a cutting machine. This machine cuts out a rubber stencil that gets matted onto the stone.
Once the stencil is cut out, the stoneworking professional tapes it to the stone and ensures everything is lined up perfectly before meticulously removing each letter with a stencil knife.
Step 5: Sandblast and Highlight the Headstone Lettering
After hand-cutting each letter out of the stencil, the headstone is put through a sandblasting machine where the design is cut into the actual stone.
Once the design is sandblasted into the stone, the stoneworking professional will customize the letters and symbols with the necessary finishes the family has requested. Finishes can be natural, hi-lite, gold, or white and black paint, depending on the color of the headstone.
Step 6: Clean and Transport Headstone to Chosen Cemetery
The final step in the headstone process is to remove the stencil and clean off any excess paint.
Once the memorial is cleaned, you and your family will be notified that your memorial is ready for delivery. Some families like to see the memorial before it is delivered and others would like to have it delivered right away. Keep in mind, the memorial must be paid in full before scheduling a delivery (deliveries can take between 2-4 weeks).
Depending on when your headstone is complete, the memorial provider will transport it to your chosen cemetery—weather permitting. During the winter months, providers often have to wait until warmer weather to place the headstone. In the meantime, a temporary wooden cross can be placed to honor your loved one.
Make Your Headstone Design Meaningful
Creating a lasting tribute for your loved one takes time. But it's important their memorial is as special and unique as the loved one it's honoring. Download our ultimate guide for memorial quotes to find an epitaph that will add meaning to your loved one's final resting place.
