Why Work With Us?

Graves to Ne
in Scripti on S Dealer in NJ

Headstone inscription services by Inscription Guide — 80+ years in Morris County, NJ.

NJ Memorial Specialists — Custom granite & bronze memorials
Custom Carving & Design — Hand-carved in Morris County
Veteran Memorials — VA-compatible, military-grade
Cemetery Compliance — Every piece meets cemetery rules
Foundation Installation — Below frost-line, level-set
Photo-Etched Portraits — High-contrast relief portraits
Memorial Restoration — Restore aged & weathered stone
American-Made Materials — Domestic granite & bronze
Companion Memorial Sets — Side-by-side memorial pairs
Over 80 Years in NJ — Family-owned since 1945
All 14 NJ Counties — Statewide installation
Multilingual Service — English · Russian · Polish
Call (973) 307-9412Get a Free Consultation
Serving all of New Jersey · English, Russian, Polish
granite Headstone Inscription hand-carved by Inscription Guide in NJ — image 1

Services (Engraving/Inscription)

Over 80 Years in NJ

Ready When You Are

Talk to a Inscription Guide craftsman today.

Call, email, schedule a free quote, or visit the showroom in person. Real people answer the phone Monday through Saturday.

Call (973) 307-9412Email UsSchedule a Free QuoteVisit Our Showroom
Service Area

Serving All 14 NJ Counties

Inscription Guide provides gravestone inscription services throughout New Jersey, from our Morris County headquarters outward to every county in the state. Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Union, Somerset, Middlesex — families in each of these counties have trusted Inscription Guide to get the inscription right. For date-of-passing additions and second-name inscriptions, our on-site NJ cemetery service brings the work directly to the stone, eliminating transport risk. Remote families can participate in the design process through digital proof delivery, reviewed and approved before any cutting begins.

  • Morris
  • Bergen
  • Essex
  • Passaic
  • Hudson
  • Union
  • Sussex
  • Warren
  • Hunterdon
  • Somerset
  • Middlesex
  • Mercer
  • Monmouth
  • Ocean
Cemetery Guide

Cemetery Compliance Guide

Cemetery Regulations

Each New Jersey cemetery governs its own inscription standards. Letter height limits, permissible fonts, restrictions on imagery, and required surface finishes all vary by facility and by section within that facility. Inscription Guide verifies these regulations with each cemetery office at the start of every project, incorporating the rules into the proof drawing before any work begins. Families should not have to navigate these requirements alone — that coordination is part of the service we provide.

Foundation Requirements

New or replacement stones require foundations that meet the cemetery's structural specifications. In New Jersey's climate, foundations must account for frost depth and ground movement. Inadequate foundations result in stones that tilt over time — visually distracting and potentially hazardous. Inscription Guide manages foundation preparation as part of every installation project, specifying reinforced concrete of appropriate dimensions and ensuring the finished base meets the cemetery's engineering requirements.

Religious Cemetery Considerations

Religious cemeteries in New Jersey — Jewish, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and others — often maintain guidelines that go beyond the standard facility rules. Jewish cemeteries commonly restrict figurative imagery and may specify that inscriptions face a particular direction. Catholic grounds may require crosses to conform to specific proportions. Inscription Guide's long history of working with faith communities throughout Morris, Bergen, and Essex Counties means we recognize these requirements and help families select inscriptions that are both personally meaningful and denominationally appropriate.

Our Collection

Our Gravestone Inscription Services

Headstone Inscription

A gravestone inscription is not merely typing in stone — it is a deliberate set of decisions about what to say, how to say it, and in what visual form the words will endure. Inscription Guide's inscription service begins with the text itself: the family decides what to inscribe — name, dates, an epitaph, a religious verse, a phrase in a language other than English. Our consultants review the text for spacing and legibility before the proof is produced. Lettering style is selected next. Roman serif type is the most common across New Jersey cemetery grounds, reading clearly from several feet away under varied lighting. Old English and Gothic scripts carry more formal character; they are well-suited to traditional and faith-oriented memorials. Custom lettering — derived from calligraphic sources or from the loved one's own handwriting — is also available. The method of inscription depends on the stone and the design. New stones receive deep-cut sandblast engraving that holds its definition for generations. Additions to existing stones — a date-of-passing, a second name — are carefully letter-matched to the original style and executed either at the workshop or on-site at the NJ cemetery with portable equipment. Older stones in need of cleaning or restoration have their carved channels cleared and, where necessary, their letterforms re-cut to restore their original depth and legibility.

Unspecified Options

Beyond primary text, inscriptions can incorporate decorative borders, religious symbols, and personal imagery. A small carved rose above a name, a Star of David centered above the dates, an open Bible at the top of the stone — these elements are planned in the proof and executed with the same precision as the lettering. Cleaning and restoration of existing inscriptions — including the careful re-painting of gilded letters — is available for older stones whose surface details have diminished over time.

Custom Design Process

Every inscription project begins with a consultation at our Morris County showroom or by phone. Families share their text, their preferred lettering style, and any imagery they want incorporated. Designers produce a scaled proof showing exactly how the finished inscription will appear on the stone — including letter spacing, baseline alignment, and symbol positioning. After family review and approval, the inscription is executed at our workshop or on-site at the cemetery. No work proceeds without an approved proof. That is how Inscription Guide has operated for more than 80 years.

Services (Engraving/Inscription) process
Our Process

Our Hand-Carving Process

Step one is the text review: our consultant reads the proposed inscription carefully, checking for spelling, date consistency, and spacing feasibility. Even a single transposed digit in a birth year is something we catch at this stage. Step two is lettering selection: the family chooses a font from our reference library, or brings reference materials for a custom style. Step three is the proof drawing, produced to scale and showing every element in its final position. The family reviews this drawing and requests any changes; the proof is revised until approved. Step four is stencil preparation and layout transfer: the approved design is converted into a cutting stencil and aligned on the stone surface using measurement templates. Step five is the inscription itself: sandblast engraving for new work, hand-chiseling for decorative and relief elements. Step six is cleaning and final inspection: carved channels are cleared, letter depths are verified against the proof, and the finished stone is reviewed under multiple lighting angles before delivery.

Services (Engraving/Inscription) memorial installed in NJ
Voices

What Families Say

New Jersey families have entrusted us with their memorials for three generations.

“We needed my father's name and dates added to my mother's stone — they were buried side by side. Inscription Guide matched the original font exactly and did the work right at the cemetery. Seeing the two names together brought the family a real sense of peace.” — Thomas, Somerset County NJ
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

If you do not see your question here, call us.

How long does it take to design and install a services?

Date-of-passing additions and companion-name inscriptions to existing stones typically take two to four weeks from consultation to completion. Full new inscription projects — including design, production, and installation — generally require six to eight weeks. We provide a timeline in writing at the start of every project.

Do you serve cemeteries throughout New Jersey?

Yes. Inscription Guide provides inscription services at cemeteries in all 14 New Jersey counties. We coordinate permits and scheduling with each cemetery office directly, so families do not have to manage that process separately.

Are your memorials cemetery-compliant?

Every inscription is designed and executed to the regulations of the cemetery where it will be placed. We confirm those regulations with the cemetery office before the proof is finalized, ensuring the finished work meets all requirements.

Can I bring my own design or photo?

Yes. Families frequently bring handwritten epitaphs, printed poetry, or photographs they would like incorporated. We also offer portrait photo-etching — transferring an image onto polished granite — as part of our inscription services.

Do you offer veteran companion markers?

We do. Veterans' inscriptions can include branch emblems, service periods, rank, and decoration citations. We are familiar with the VA's government-furnished marker program and can help families who qualify for that benefit.

What languages do you serve families in?

Yes — English, Russian, and Polish.

Showroom & Gallery

See Graves to Ne in Scripti on S in Person

Browse a few of the stones we have set, then come visit us in person. Sample stones, finishes, and lettering are all on display.

Inscription Guide Madison, NJ 07940
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Services (Engraving/Inscription) · Serving all of New Jersey

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

We serve families across Morris, Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Hudson counties and all of New Jersey. Fill out the form, drop by the showroom, or call us. Real people answer the phone Monday through Saturday.

Request Your Free Consultation

A specialist contacts you within one business day. House calls available across Morris County and the surrounding region.

Or call (973) 307-9412