Pre-Planning Your Memorial Starts with Care Get the Pre-Planning Guide Thoughtful memorial pre-planning gives your family clarity and peace of mind—while ensuring your headstone, monument, or cemetery marker reflects your life. Planning ahead is one of the most meaningful things you can do for your family. At Sunburst Memorials, we help individuals and families with memorial pre-planning, headstone design, and cemetery marker selection—and, when you’re ready, guide you through purchasing your memorial so everything is clear, documented, and handled with care. With a plan in place, your loved ones won’t have to guess—they’ll simply follow your wishes. We understand how personal this decision is. For years, Sunburst Memorials has helped families navigate cemetery monument planning, custom memorial design, and headstone decisions with care, patience, and clear guidance. Every memorial is custom—designed to reflect what matters most to you and the life being honored. That’s why we take the time to listen, answer questions, and help you create something that feels meaningful, appropriate, and true. Get the Pre-Planning Guide A Simple Way to Plan Ahead 1. Share Your Wishes Document the details you want your family to know, including your preferred memorial style, inscription ideas, and any personal touches that matter to you. 2. Explore Your Options Review headstone, monument, and cemetery marker choices so you can make informed decisions about materials, design, layout, and cost. 3. Put Your Plan in Place Organize your selections clearly so your loved ones have guidance when the time comes—and confidence in the decisions you’ve made. 4. Complete Your Plan with Confidence When you’re ready, a Sunburst Memorials consultant will guide you through final details, purchase, and next steps. From design to production to setting your memorial in place, we ensure everything is carried through with care. Why Families Choose Memorial Pre-Planning Reduces stress during an emotional time Pre-planning gives your family clear direction when decisions would otherwise feel difficult or rushed. Ensures your memorial reflects your wishes You can choose the style, inscription, materials, and details that feel meaningful and appropriate. Avoids rushed cemetery memorial decisions Planning ahead gives you time to compare options thoughtfully instead of making choices under pressure. Planning ahead for your funeral memorial or cemetery monument is a simple step that makes a lasting difference. With a Plan in Place: Your family can focus on remembering your life – not making difficult decisions. Everything from your memorial design to your inscription is already taken care of. Without a Plan: Loved ones may feel uncertain about what you would have wanted, leading to stress, delays, and second-guessing during an already difficult time. Get the Pre-Planning Guide A Simple Plan Today Brings Clarity for Tomorrow Pre-planning your memorial or headstone isn’t about focusing on the end-its about caring for the people you love. Get the Pre-Planning Guide Connect with a Memorial Consultant FAQs Does the memorial need to be in place before the funeral or burial? No. The burial can take place before the memorial is installed — and in most cases, it does.Because memorials take three to seven months depending on granite origin and design complexity, it’s common for families to hold services first and have the memorial placed afterward.The cemetery’s caretaker can prepare the burial site without the monument in place. Can you plan and purchase a headstone in advance? Yes, and many families find it’s one of the most meaningful things they can do for the people they love. Pre-planning a memorial allows both spouses to have a say in the design and locks in today’s pricing against future increases. It removes a significant decision from your family’s plate during an already difficult time.To plan a memorial in advance, you meet with a consultant, design the memorial together, and finalize the details at your own pace. Nothing has to be rushed. How much does a headstone cost? Headstone pricing varies based on the type of stone, size, granite origin, and the level of customization.A simple flat marker will cost less than a fully custom upright monument with engraved artwork or a portrait.Because most memorials are designed specifically for each family, pricing is typically provided as a custom quote after your consultation. What’s included matters as much as the number. At Sunburst, all engraving and front artwork are included in the price, and your consultant will be upfront about what’s covered so there are no surprises. Do you offer payment plans? No, but the cost can be broken into two payments. A deposit is required to begin production, and the remaining balance is due when the memorial is set in the cemetery. Can a headstone be updated after it is installed? Yes. Most headstones — especially granite ones — can be updated after installation. Common updates include adding a date of passing, adding a second name on a companion stone, or adding an inscription.We bring the engraving equipment to the cemetery or, in some cases, bring the stone back to the shop. Either way, we make sure the new lettering matches the original size, depth, and style. How long will the engraving last? The engraving is cut directly into the granite, so it lasts for generations. It will not fade or disappear. Over many years, weather can gently soften the edges, but the lettering remains clear and readable. Granite is one of the most durable materials available, which is why it is the standard for long-lasting memorials.