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Useful Guides

Grave Surround Ideas: Creating the Perfect Resting Place

Choosing the right memorial for a departed loved one is never easy. At Memorials of Distinction we take pride in the vast range of high-quality, hand-carved headstones and gravestones in our collection, and we truly believe that there is something to suit everyone. However, we understand that only you know how best to remember your loved one – and you may feel that traditional headstones simply do not offer the space to sufficiently pay tribute. That’s why we offer much more than simply headstones. 

Decorating the area around a grave

The main stone and inscription are really just the beginning of a memorial, and with well-chosen decorative elements they can form the foundation of a truly striking resting place. From grave ornaments such as candle boxes and religious icons to memorial statues and memorial vases, we have a huge variety of grave decorations that can make a unique and meaningful addition to the area around the grave. If you want to add lots of flowers and intend to regularly replenish them with fresh ones, our vases of all shapes and sizes can help create a focal point – and you can choose to add just one or as many as you feel you wish to. 

For an extra personal touch, our photo plaques, etchings and sandblasted designs allow you to incorporate something truly unique that represents your loved one’s life – whether it’s a hobby, a belief, a favourite piece of art or a treasured item. We have many options to choose from but you can always speak to our friendly team about incorporating your own ideas with our bespoke design service.


Add a personal touch to your grave surround design

Putting additional items on and around a grave elevates it into something that feels truly personal, avoiding the uniformity of a simple headstone which may not stand out from those surrounding it. That’s why at Memorials of Distinction our grave decoration designs cater to all tastes, ensuring you can find the ornament, statue, vase or other decorative item that feels just right.

Once you have chosen the elements that will make up your loved one’s resting place, you might feel that you want a way to unify them all into a single memorial. One of the best ways to do this is to opt for a kerbed memorial. This is a style of memorial that extends from the headstone at ground level to cover the full grave, creating a contained and garden-like effect which complements the items you have chosen, and helps to make them look their best. 

The kerbed memorials we offer can be filled with plants and greenery, coloured chippings or a stone cover slab to match the headstone. This marks out a space, inside the grave edging, that you can choose to customise as you wish, truly making the most of the space. Some also incorporate specific design features like the winding path memorial and our open book memorials which allow additional space for an engraving.

The cost of a kerbed memorial

Our kerbed memorials come in a diverse range of striking designs, and our prices reflect this. All our kerbed memorials are made from the highest quality materials, drawing on over 35 years of experience in stonemasonry. They come with a 30-year stonework guarantee that ensures a robust and long-lasting marker for your loved one’s resting place. For more information on pricing, please read our blog post on how much is a headstone. 

Helping you choose the right grave surround

At Memorials of Distinction we can advise you on the rules of your chosen churchyard or burial ground, to determine what aspects of a grave design are suitable and what you may need to alter. Each site has its own restrictions on what can be placed on grave surroundings and what style of memorial can be used, and we are very accustomed to factoring these in while helping you to create something truly unique that reflects the life of your loved one. 

If you have any questions about kerbed memorials, grave surround ideas or any other aspect of grave design, do not hesitate to speak to our team today by calling 01582 273024.

You Might Also Like

  • Grave Ornaments
  • Etchings & Sandblasted Designs
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Garden Kerbs (small surround for headstones)

Recent Guides

  • What is the etiquette around headstones in the UK?
  • How Much is a Headstone?
  • Grave Surround Ideas: Creating the Perfect Resting Place
  • Baby Grave Ideas: A Guide
  • The Definitive Guide to Funeral Flowers
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a kerb set?

Kerbs are a line of stone which forms a rectangular edge covering the whole grave. This is usually made from the same stone as the headstone but can be changed for a contrasting material if preferred. The centre area can be filled with coloured glass chippings, soil or a cover slab according to your taste.

Can I design my own Memorial Stone?

If the particular shape or style of memorial you would like is not in our standard collection, we will be happy to work with you to create something bespoke.  Whether it is just swapping one type of vase or statue for another or creating a whole new design, we have the expertise to guide you through it. Call or email us to discuss in more detail or use our Live Chat feature on the bottom right of your screen.

Can I pay by instalments?

Our standard terms for payment are as follows:

First Installment
20% Deposit when memorial ordered as above.

Second Installment
75% of balance plus burial ground fee payable when permit received from cemetery or church authority. Obtaining permit takes on average 2-3 weeks from first installment.

Final Installment
Final balance payable on completion (ie. when memorial is in place, approximately 12 weeks after receipt of second installment).

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OUR MEMORIALS RANGE

MemorialHeadstones products

MemorialHeadstones

Kerbed Memorials products

Kerbed Memorials

Cremation & Small Memorials products

Cremation & Small Memorials

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TESTIMONIALS

Such a good service from start to finish. Clear and courteous instruction on what information was needed from me and kept me informed throughout. Finished memorial stone is perfect and installed without a hitch. Thank you.

Claire D Google Review: 16/12/2020

5 stars does not do Memorials of Distinction justice. Right from the moment of enquiring for a brochure through to the memorial being fixed into place, their dedicated team could not be more helpful. There is no pressure from any of the sales team. Everything is taken at your own pace when you are ready. Nothing is too much trouble making you feel at ease asking anything regarding the memorial. Their craftsmanship is second to none and they have handled everything for us causing as little distress as possible with such a sensitive matter. I cannot recommend Memorials of Distinction enough.

Ann S. Google Review: 01/12/2020

What a lovely service they provide. Friendly staff on the phone and the stone was perfect. Thank you so much.

I cannot recommend them enough.

Josephine P. Google Review: 05/11/2020

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Factory & Showroom (Head Office)
The Memorial Works
Southfields Road Dunstable LU6 3EP

  • Tel: 01582 249990
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