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Custom Monuments & Personalized Headstones Toronto
Personalized Memorial for Every Legacy
Every custom monument we create begins with learning about the person being remembered. There is no limit when you design your monument with our custom memorial specialist. We work directly with families across Toronto and the GTA to design personalized headstones that go beyond the standard shapes you see in most cemeteries. Whether you want a granite cross with hand carved details, an oriental monument with sculpted wings, a gravestone with a ceramic photo, or a completely unique shape that tells a story, we can build it. Browse the gallery below to see examples of custom monuments we have designed and installed at cemeteries throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
Custom monuments are one of several headstone and memorial options we offer. If you want to compare styles, sizes, and layouts, browse all our monuments.
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See how these custom monuments come to life, browse our Concept to Reality page.
What Makes a Headstone Custom
A custom headstone is any monument that is designed specifically for one family rather than selected from a standard catalog. With a standard serpentine or upright headstone, the shape is already set. You choose the granite color, the engraving, and the artwork, but the overall form stays the same.
With a custom monument, the shape itself is part of the design. The stone can be carved into a cross, sculpted with angel wings, cut into a heart, shaped like an open book, or formed into any profile the family has in mind. The engraving layout, artwork, and finishing details are all built around that shape from the start.
This is the difference between choosing from a menu and creating something from scratch. Both are valid options. But for families who want a personalized headstone that reflects a specific life, faith, or story, custom is the way to go.
Custom Monument Styles We Design
Every family has a different vision. Here are the most common types of customized headstones we produce at Haven Casket.
Granite cross monuments are our most requested custom shape. They range from simple Latin crosses to more detailed designs with carved roses, vines, or floral accents along the face and edges. Cross monuments start as low as $2,500 and are a popular choice for families of Christian faith.
Oriental monuments with sculpted wings are among the most visually striking memorials we create. These designs feature detailed wing carvings that extend outward from the center of the stone, creating a dramatic and memorable look. Wing monuments start at $4,500 and can go past $10,000 for larger, more detailed designs.
Modified serpentine tops take the familiar serpentine shape and give it a unique contour. The curve may be deeper, wider, or combined with an integrated design element like a cross tip or heart shape at the peak. This gives the monument a custom feel while keeping the overall look clean and classic.
Companion monuments are designed for two people, usually a married couple. These larger headstones share a single base and allow for a unified design with space for both names, dates, and individual artwork on each side. They are a common choice for families who want to plan a memorial for both partners at the same time.
Book and scroll designs feature the stone carved to look like an open book or an unfurled scroll. These are often chosen for people who loved reading, writing, or education. The open pages create natural panels for engraving and artwork.
Heart shaped headstones offer a softer, more emotional look. They can be simple or combined with other elements like hands, doves, or floral carvings.
Beyond these styles, we can design almost any shape a family can imagine. If you have an idea, bring it to us, and we will work with you to see if it can be done within the size limits of your cemetery.
Adding a Ceramic Photo to Your Headstone
One of the most personal touches you can add to a custom headstone is a ceramic photo. This is a high quality image of your loved one that is permanently printed onto a ceramic tile and mounted directly into the face of the granite.
Ceramic photos are weather resistant and designed to hold their color and clarity for decades, even through Ontario’s harsh winters. They come in oval, round, and rectangular shapes, and can be placed on almost any style of monument, whether it is a flat marker, an upright headstone, or a fully custom design.
Many families choose a ceramic photo because it adds a face to the memorial. When someone visits the grave, they see the person, not just a name and a date. For children, grandchildren, and future generations who may never have met the person, a photo on the gravestone keeps that connection alive in a way that words alone cannot.
If you would like to add a ceramic photo to a new or existing monument, bring us a clear, high resolution image, and we will show you how it will look on the stone before anything is produced.
If you would like to add a ceramic photo to a new or existing monument, bring us a clear, high resolution image, and we will show you how it will look on the stone before anything is produced.
Laser Etching and Engraving Options
Custom headstones open up more possibilities for engraving and artwork than standard shapes. With more surface area and a unique layout, families can include details that would not fit on a smaller, standard monument.
Laser etching uses a focused laser beam to etch highly detailed images directly into the granite surface. This technique works best on black granite, where the contrast between the etched area and the polished surface is strongest. Laser etching can reproduce photographs, landscapes, buildings, religious scenes, and even handwritten notes with remarkable detail.
Sandblasted engraving is the traditional method used for text and simpler artwork. Letters and designs are cut into the stone using pressurized sand, creating a clean, deep impression that lasts for generations. This method works well on all granite colors.
Raised lettering and carved details involve shaping the granite so that letters and images sit above the surface rather than being cut into it. This creates a three-dimensional effect that adds depth and texture to the monument. Raised carving is more labor-intensive and adds to the cost, but the result is a headstone that looks and feels distinctly crafted.
Most custom monuments use a combination of these techniques. For example, a cross monument might have sandblasted text on the face, laser etched portraits on the sides, and raised floral carvings along the edges. We help each family choose the right mix based on the design, the granite color, and the budget.
How We Design Your Custom Headstone
The process of designing a custom headstone at Haven Casket follows a clear set of steps. We keep you involved at every stage, so the final monument is exactly what you envisioned.
Step 1: Initial conversation. You call us or visit our Markham showroom to talk about what you have in mind. We discuss the shape, the granite color, the engraving, the artwork, and any special features like a ceramic photo or carved details. If you are not sure where to start, we share examples from past projects to help spark ideas.
Step 2: Cemetery size check. Before any design work begins, we contact the cemetery to confirm the size limits for your specific plot. Every cemetery section has rules about the maximum width, height, and depth of the monument. We verify these details first, so the design fits without any issues later.
Step 3: Design proof. We create a detailed layout showing the shape, text placement, artwork, and finishing options. You review this proof, request any changes, and approve the final version before anything goes into production.
Step 4: Production. Once you and the cemetery have both approved the design, production begins. Custom monuments typically take 8 to 12 weeks to complete depending on the complexity of the design.
Step 5: Installation. Our team handles the full installation at the cemetery. We prepare the foundation, set the monument, and make sure everything meets the cemetery’s standards. You do not need to coordinate any of this yourself.
For more details on our delivery and installation process, visit our monument delivery page.
Custom Headstone Pricing
Custom headstone pricing depends on the shape, the size, the granite color, the amount of carving, and the engraving details. Here is a general guide to what families can expect at Haven Casket.
Simple custom shapes like a granite cross start as low as $2,500. This includes the granite, engraving, and installation at a GTA cemetery.
Mid range custom designs with modified serpentine tops, shaped profiles, or companion layouts typically range from $3,500 to $5,000.
Oriental monuments with sculpted wings and detailed carving start at around $4,500 and can go past $10,000 for larger, more elaborate designs.
Extras like ceramic photos, laser etching, raised carvings, and bronze accessories add to the total based on the level of detail involved.
These prices are significantly lower than what most cemeteries and large monument companies charge for the same quality. Because we work directly with families and handle the full process from design to installation, there is no middleman markup built into the price. For a full look at how headstone costs break down in Ontario, visit our headstone pricing guide.
Every custom monument includes free delivery and installation anywhere in the Greater Toronto Area.
If you are still deciding between styles, browse all our headstones and grave markers or compare with upright headstones and flat grave markers.
FAQ
How long does a custom headstone take to complete?
Most custom monuments take 8 to 12 weeks from design approval to cemetery installation. The timeline depends on the complexity of the design and the time of year, as weather can affect installation scheduling.
Can I add a ceramic photo to an existing headstone?
Yes. A ceramic photo can be added to most existing granite monuments. Contact us with a photo of the current headstone, and we will let you know what is possible.
Do I need to check with the cemetery before ordering a custom monument?
Yes, and we handle this for you. Every cemetery section has specific size limits for monuments. We contact the cemetery directly to confirm the allowed dimensions before any design work begins.
Can I design a headstone for two people?
Yes. Companion monuments are one of our most popular custom projects. These are designed for couples and include space for both names, dates, and individual artwork on a shared base.
What granite colors are available for custom headstones?
We offer a wide range of granite colors including black, gray, Indian red, blue pearl, Bahama blue, Paradiso, and more. Black granite is ideal for laser etching because of the strong contrast it creates. We can show you samples at our showroom or send photos of available options.
