FAQ-about the process of arranging a memorial
Written by: Annissa Cole Published: 15th July 2026
J.Gumbrill is frequently asked questions about the process of arranging a memorial. As many of our customers have never had to commission a monument before, it’s very understandable that they would not be familiar with issues like timescales. Fortunately, our expert team is here to help. We will work with you at every step, so you feel informed and reassured.
Last time, Annissa talked us through some common queries about J.Gumbrill’s services. Here, in the second of our three-part series answering your questions, Annissa looks at what she is often asked about the process of arranging a memorial.
Q: How soon can we arrange a memorial to be placed on the plot?
The ground needs to settle after a burial, therefore the burial authorities will not let a memorial be introduced until a minimum of six months after it has taken place. Some cemeteries have regulations stipulating longer timescales and we will ensure you are informed if this is the case. However, by the time you have chosen the design of the memorial, and we have provided you with a quote, it is likely to be a while since the burial has taken place. The obtaining of the stone from our suppliers also takes time. We do not place the order with them until we have the approval of the burial authority, and we allow 26 weeks from this time to installation. Once the memorial is with us, the lettering also takes time and, where there have been long periods of inclement weather, we may wait for the ground to be suitable for installation. Therefore, we suggest commencing the process as soon as you feel ready, as it then means the six-month wait for the ground to settle will likely be passed by the time the stone is ready for installation.
Q: Will you handle permits or approvals with the cemetery/church?
Yes, this is part of our service. We will submit all applications to the relevant burial authority on your behalf once the design of the memorial has been chosen. Because there can be stipulations over a memorial’s dimensions and material, and sometimes rules about lettering, we will work with you to create a design that meets the burial place’s regulations. Therefore, by the time of the submission of the permit, we will be confident that, as well as being approved by you, the design is likely to be accepted. We also have access to the required forms and the technical details to ensure everything is completed to the burial authority’s satisfaction.
Q: How long does it take to design, make, and install a memorial?
We recommend coming for an appointment to look at the options available and discuss your requirements. Following the appointment, we send you a quote along with the relevant memorial application form. Once you have accepted our quote and paid your deposit, we seek permission from the relevant burial authority. Once we receive this, the timescale until completion is approximately 26 weeks. The majority of this is the time taken for our supplier to complete our order with them. If you would like the memorial to be installed by a certain date, please let us know and we will do our best; however, until the memorial has been delivered by the supplier, the timescale is out of our control.
Q: Can I see a draft or mock-up before my memorial is made?
Once you have accepted our quote and paid the deposit, we will request a drawing from the letter cutter which will show his proposed layout of the inscription on the stone along with the style lettering and font. This also shows the rough shape of the stone to give the lettering context. However, when the memorial arrives from the supplier, the letter cutter may choose to make minor variations, especially if you have chosen a material which has darker veins. If one of these is on the face of the memorial he may try to work around it. We would discuss any major changes with you and, if need be, arrange for you to view the stone before it is lettered to discuss the matter.
It is worth noting that every memorial is made bespoke to your requirements, as most shapes and sizes are available in most materials. Therefore, there will always need to be an amount of visualisation of the finished product on your behalf. We can help you with this, though, by showing you samples of different materials and photographs of completed memorials in the same stone type or shape.
Q: Who installs the memorial, and is it included in the price?
One of our monumental masons will install the memorial once the ground has settled and they judge the plot is in a suitable condition for it to be positioned safely and securely. Our team members are on the Register of Qualified Memorial Fixers, meaning they work to British Standard BS8415 and are trained in the most up-to-date methods of memorial installation. Why not learn more about our team, or visit our the website of our Trade Association, NAMM (National Association of Memorial Masons) to understand more about memorial fixing standards?
The cost of memorial installation is included in your quote, we provide a price to both supply and fix the memorial as one component of the overall cost of your memorial.
We hope this post has answered your questions about the process of installing a memorial. Next time, we will look at FAQs about how memorial work is priced.
Thanks for your time, Annissa.
