Frequently Asked Questions

If possible, bring any cemetery paperwork, inscription ideas, or photos of memorials you like. But if you don’t have those ready, that’s okay—we’ll help you through the process.

It helps to have your loved one’s full name, dates of birth and passing, and any wording or inscription you’d like to include. It’s also helpful to know which cemetery the monument will be placed in, as rules and requirements can vary.

When choosing a monument, it’s important to know whether the burial will be cremation or traditional, and whether the stone will be a single (covering one space) or a double (covering two). For two traditional burials, a double is required; for one burial, a single is usually appropriate. With cremation, some cemeteries allow two cremated individuals in one plot, while others require two. In the end, the decision depends on whether you own one plot or two.

Don’t worry if you don’t have everything yet—we can help guide you through it.

Most cemeteries have guidelines for size, style, and placement. We’re happy to work with the cemetery on your behalf or help you confirm their requirements before moving forward.

We create upright monuments, flat markers, slants, cremation memorials, benches, vases, vigil lights, Mausoleums, plaques and fully custom designs. Together, we’ll find the style that feels right for your loved one.

Yes. Options include cremation benches, columbaria, or traditional-style markers designed to hold or accompany cremated remains.

There are a million and one variables when it comes to price. Size is the most obvious factor, but stone color plays a role as well. Red is the most expensive and black is second-most expensive. If you’re on a budget, consider choosing a grey stone! Generally, design (either sandblasted or etching) will not considerably affect price unless the design is extremely custom. A black and white etching costs the same as a color etching, so keep that in mind!

The universal elements are first name, middle initial, last name, date of birth, and date of death. If you are purchasing for yourself or someone who is still alive, we can add dates at a later time.  It is common to add marriage dates along with a design like rings. We have many marriage-related laser etchings and sandblast designs that would frame and complement the dates perfectly. Another common element added is relationships. For example, “Beloved Wife and Mother” or, “Father and Grandfather.”

We can also include maiden names and nicknames. We place these names under the first name unless there is a special request. A maiden name would look something like this “nee Roberts”. “Nee” comes from the French language meaning maiden or family name and it is commonly used in most cemeteries.

That’s very common. We’ll walk you through your options step by step, share examples, and help you create something meaningful and fitting.

Yes. Whether it’s stone color, lettering style, or design elements, we can closely match existing family memorials, so everything feels unified.

Yes. Many families choose to arrange a monument ahead of time to ease the burden later and to secure today’s pricing.

Absolutely. We can return to the cemetery to engrave final dates or add inscriptions to an existing stone.

We can incorporate sandblasted designs or etched designs. Sandblasted designs are less detailed designs which commonly frame or adorn the words of a stone. Etched designs are very detailed and look much more like traditional drawings. They can either be a small image (birds are very common choices) or a very large image which spans from one side of the stone to the other (we call these “full scenes”). We use this method to create portraits and other custom work.

Etched designs work best on black stones, as black stones provide the greatest contrast and the least amount of variation in color and texture, therefore, the most legible. However, if you have a differently colored stone, we do have a solution – insets. In these cases, we put the laser etching on a small circle or oval of black granite and then inlay the black granite into the stone of your choice. You can see some of these examples in our recent work gallery.

Our etchings can either be in color or black and white, and there is no additional charge for color. Portraits are typically done in black and white because color etchings of faces do not usually resemble the right skin tone and texture which results in an image that looks nothing like your loved one.  However, if you would like your loved one’s portrait in color, we do offer Cameos. A cameo is a photo of your loved one printed on a ceramic oval frame.

We aim to create beautiful images which last for as long as possible, so we generally encourage our patrons to agree on a black and white etched portrait or the cameo.

We encourage patrons to bring in meaningful photos which they may like to see on their own or their loved ones’ monuments. Common choices include portraits, houses, vehicles, farms, pets, and even toys, but the possibilities are endless.

If you don’t have a usable photo of an object, we can take one for you. We will drive out and take a photo of your home if necessary (provided it’s not too far away).

If you are purchasing an above ground memorial, we can put more on the back of the stone. Some have chosen to display the names of their children on the back. The considerable space on the back of the stone can also lend itself very well to scenery or a veteran’s marker or your last name.

Granite is the most popular choice because of its durability and beauty, but we also work with bronze and other materials where allowed.

Yes. We coordinate professional installation at the cemetery and make sure everything complies with their rules and standards.

We accept major credit cards, checks, and cash.

Yes. You’ll receive a detailed proof to review and approve before any work begins, giving you peace of mind about how the finished memorial will look.

Every monument is custom made, so timing can vary. On average, most are completed within 6 months pending customer approval, but special designs or materials may take longer. We are also a weather dependent company. Foundations cannot be installed during the cold winters here in Wisconsin so you may have to wait until it warms up. Another weather condition that may slow the process is extremely wet weather. We are unable to get into the cemeteries with big equipment when the ground is extremely soft. We do our best to work around these conditions. We’ll keep you updated every step of the way.

You will receive an invoice from us whether it is already paid in full or not. The invoice is your cue that it has been placed and it will have the date on the invoice when we placed it.

We’ll provide guidance on care and cleaning. In most cases, mild soap and water are best. Avoid harsh cleaners or pressure washing, as they may damage the stone.