If your loved one has recently passed away, and you're making funeral arrangements, you'll need to plan for the monument. The monument will not only mark where your loved one is laid to rest, it also serves as a memorial to their life. You want to to be perfect for them. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a monument. Here are four steps you should take when selecting a monument for your loved one.

Talk to Your Funeral Home Representative

When it comes to selecting a monument for your loved one, the first thing you need to do is sit down and talk to your funeral home representative. They'll be able to help you identify the specific monument requirements for the cemetery that you've selected for your loved one. Cemeteries all have their own specific requirements when it comes to monuments. If you select one that doesn't fit those requirements, you won't be able to use it. Some of the requirements will include materials used for the monument, size of the monument, and style of the monument. For instance, some cemeteries will require granite monuments, or they may not allow monuments over a certain size. Before you select your monument, make sure you know the requirements.

Know What You Can Afford

When you're planning your loved ones funeral, you want everything to be perfect for them, including the monument. Unfortunately, that desire for perfection can cause you to spend more on the funeral than you can actually afford. Before you start selecting a monument for your loved one, know what your budge is. If you can only afford a small monument right now, choose the one that fits in your budget. Then, create a savings account for a larger monument. When you can afford the one you want, gather as a family again for a monument service.

Consider Your Loved One

When choosing a monument for your loved one, be sure you take them into consideration, especially the life they led. If they loved sitting outside, consider a monument bench. If they loved to fly, consider adding an etching of an airplane on their monument. Adding a personal touch to the monument is the perfect way to memorialize your loved one through their monument.

Have an Alternative Plan

If you've got your heart set on a specific monument, but it doesn't fit within the requirements of the cemetery you've selected, consider having an alternate plan. For instance, design a memorial garden in your yard and place the monument there. Not only will this allow you to choose the monument you wanted, but it will also give you the opportunity to memorialize your loved one right in your own yard.

Contact a company, like Norman's Memorials, for more help.