Absolutely! At Gifford Monument Works, we welcome and encourage customers to bring their own monument design ideas. Whether you have detailed sketches, photos of monuments you admire, Pinterest boards full of inspiration, or just a general concept in your mind, our memorial artists are here to help bring your vision to life.
What You Can Bring Us
We work with clients who bring various types of design inspiration:
- Hand-drawn sketches: Even rough drawings help us understand your vision
- Photos of monuments: Pictures from cemeteries, online searches, or family monuments
- Digital designs: CAD drawings, graphic design files, or digital mockups
- Written descriptions: Detailed descriptions of what you envision
- Inspiration collections: Pinterest boards, magazine clippings, or photo albums
- Family heirlooms: Incorporate elements from existing family monuments or symbols
Our Collaborative Process
When you bring your own design idea, we follow a collaborative process to refine and perfect it:
- Initial Consultation: We review your ideas and discuss feasibility, materials, and budget
- Technical Review: Our experts assess structural requirements, cemetery regulations, and engraving possibilities
- Design Refinement: We create professional design proofs incorporating your ideas with our expertise
- Material Selection: Choose the perfect granite color and finish to match your vision
- Final Approval: Review detailed drawings before production begins
Combining Your Vision with Our Expertise
While we love your creative input, we also bring 88 years of monument craftsmanship experience. We'll offer guidance on:
- Proportions and dimensions that work aesthetically
- Engraving techniques that will stand the test of time
- Granite types that work best for your design
- Cemetery regulation compliance
- Structural integrity and weather resistance
- Budget optimization without compromising quality
Common Custom Requests
Families often bring us ideas for:
- Monuments shaped like hearts, books, or crosses
- Designs incorporating professional tools (guitars, golf clubs, fishing equipment)
- Nature-themed monuments with trees, mountains, or wildlife
- Cultural or religious symbols specific to heritage
- Companion monuments with unique connecting elements
- Estate monuments that tell a family's multi-generational story
What Happens Next?
Once you bring us your idea, we'll schedule a design consultation at our Ada, Oklahoma or Wylie, Texas showroom. Bring any reference materials you have, and we'll discuss timeline (typically 8-12 weeks), pricing (varies by complexity), and next steps. We'll create a detailed design proof for your approval before any production begins.
Ready to discuss your monument design idea? Contact us today to schedule your consultation. We're excited to help create a memorial that perfectly honors your loved one's unique life story.
Related Questions
If I don't see a monument design I like, can I get a custom monument?
Yes — our memorial artists can create a custom design tailored to your unique vision.
Can you incorporate custom artwork or photographs into the monument?
Yes — we can laser-etch photographs and engrave custom artwork directly onto granite monuments.
Ready to Get Started?
Our experienced team is here to guide you through every step of creating a beautiful, lasting memorial.
Serving Oklahoma and Texas families since 1936