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Tag: Wooden Memorials

Meaningful Wording Ideas for Memorial Plaques

Posted on by Kate

Choosing the right words for a memorial plaque can feel like one of the most difficult parts of creating a lasting tribute. A memorial plaque is far more than an engraved piece of stone, wood or metal – it is a reflection of a life lived, a relationship cherished, and memories that will endure for generations.

Many families tell us that they know exactly how they feel, but struggle to put those emotions into words. If you are wondering what to write on a memorial plaque, this guide offers inspiration and ideas to help you create a personal and meaningful inscription.

Start with the Person, Not the Plaque

Before choosing wording, take a moment to think about the person you are remembering.

Ask yourself:

  • What made them special?
  • How would family and friends describe them?
  • Did they have a favourite saying, poem or Bible verse?
  • What role did they play in family life?
  • What memories immediately come to mind when you think of them?

The most meaningful memorial inscriptions often come from personal memories and heartfelt sentiments rather than formal phrases alone. Many families choose to include a nickname, favourite expression or reference to a beloved hobby or passion.

High-quality granite memorials crafted at UK Memorials.
Granite Memorials

Traditional Memorial Plaque Wording

Traditional wording remains popular because it is timeless, elegant and universally understood.

Some examples include:

  • In Loving Memory of
  • Forever In Our Hearts
  • Always Loved, Never Forgotten
  • Rest In Peace
  • Gone But Never Forgotten
  • Treasured Memories Last Forever
  • Loved Beyond Words, Missed Beyond Measure
  • Remembered With Love Every Day

Simple wording can often be the most powerful. A short inscription can express profound love and remembrance while remaining understated and dignified.

Wording for wooden memorial plaques.
Wooden Memorials

Personal Messages from the Heart

Many families prefer to include a more personal tribute that reflects the individual’s personality and the relationship they shared.

Examples include:

“Your kindness touched so many lives.”

“You taught us to laugh, love and live life fully.”

“Thank you for the love, wisdom and guidance you gave us.”

“A loving husband, devoted father and cherished grandfather.”

“Your memory lives on in all who knew and loved you.”

“You may be gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.”

Personal messages help create a unique memorial that truly celebrates a person’s life and legacy.

Unique Corian Memorial Plaques Crafted at UK Memorials.
Corian Memorials

Memorial Wording for Mum

Losing a mother is one of life’s greatest sorrows, and many families wish to express both love and gratitude.

Examples include:

  • Loving Mum, Always In Our Hearts
  • A Mother’s Love Lives On Forever
  • Forever Loved, Forever Missed
  • Thank You For Your Endless Love
  • Your Love Was Our Greatest Gift
  • A Loving Mother, Grandmother and Friend

Memorial Wording for Dad

Faith can bring comfort during bereavement, and many memorial plaques include spiritual or religious wording.

Examples include:

  • Safe In The Arms Of Jesus
  • Forever In God’s Loving Care
  • At Peace With The Lord
  • The Lord Is My Shepherd
  • Until We Meet Again
  • Resting In Heavenly Peace
  • May The Angels Lead You Into Paradise

Bible verses are also commonly chosen for memorial plaques, particularly Psalm 23, John 14 and Corinthians passages that speak of love, hope and eternal life.

Engraved memorial plaques in a variety of materials at UK Memorials.

Poetic Memorial Quotes

Poetry can beautifully capture feelings that are difficult to express.

Some much-loved memorial verses include:

“Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.”

“In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still; in our hearts you hold a place no one could ever fill.”

“If tears could build a staircase and memories a lane, we’d walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again.”

Keep the Plaque Size in Mind

While it is natural to want to say everything, the available space on a memorial plaque will often influence the final wording. Smaller plaques may suit a short inscription, while larger memorials can accommodate longer messages or poems. Many families choose a combination of:

  • Opening phrase
  • Full name
  • Dates
  • Relationship or dedication
  • Personal message or quote
  • Closing sentiment

This structure creates a balanced and meaningful tribute while ensuring the inscription remains easy to read.

Creating a Lasting Tribute

There is no right or wrong when it comes to memorial plaque wording. Whether you choose a simple phrase, a favourite poem, a religious verse or your own heartfelt message, the most important thing is that it feels right for you and truly reflects the person being remembered.

A memorial plaque serves as a lasting tribute – a place to pause, reflect and remember a loved one for many years to come.

If you need help choosing the perfect wording for your memorial plaque, our experienced team is always happy to offer guidance and support during what can be a difficult time.

How to look after your wooden memorial

Posted on by Kate

If you have purchased a wooden memorial from us or simply have one and want to know the best way to look after it then this blog will be very helpful for you. We will take you through the different timbers, what you should treat them with and how frequently you should treat them. 

 

Oak

If you have an oak memorial then there is quite a few treatment options available for you. A key feature to note with Oak is that a specific fungal can get into the timber and turn it black so regular treatment is required. Our recommended treatment is Varnish but please be aware not all burial grounds allow varnish. Our oak memorials that are treated with satin varnish are; anti-fungal, 1 base coat, 3 layers of top coats and a wood milk layer. This treatment should last a least a year (depending on whether) and after that, we recommend you re-treat yearly. To retreat varnished signs you want a dry day and to be relatively dust-free. You want to lightly sand down the plaque and then apply a few layers of varnish. You can use a soft rag or a soft paintbrush. 

 

The other treatment options available for Oak is Devon Oil or Osmo Oil. With both of these treatments, we still treat with anti-fungal and then we apply 3 layers of the oils. Devon oil is a completely natural oil, made with all natural products which makes it a great choice for natural burial grounds. The Devon Oil will need to be reapplied a few times a year to keep the plaque looking its best. Osmo Oil is a bit tougher treatment and it takes longer for water ingress to occur than Devon oil so you can leave it longer between treatments however we do reccomend a couple of times year you retreat.

Oak can be treated with Varnish or oil.

Iroko 

If you have just purchased an Iroko memorial then you will have received it with two coats of Devon Oil. Iroko is a fantastic hardwood that works very well for outdoor use. Unlike the oak it does not go black with water ingression but will turn silver. Looking after the Iroko plaque is much easier than oak but more frequent. We recommend re-treating with oil a few times a year. To retreat you simply need to add oil to rag and wipe over the plaque.  If the plaque has weathered a little you can lightly sand and then re-oil. 

Iroko memorials crafted by UK Memorials.

 

Douglas Fir 

Douglas firs is very similar to the oak apart from that it does not go black with water ingression. Treatment can either be our Satin Varnish or Devon Oil. Both of which work very well with this timber and instead its whether you would prefer to treat more regularly but with an easier method (wiping over with oil) or less frequent but more involved (sanding and re-varnishing). 

High-quality Douglas fir memorials.

 

Key Points

The main key point with looking after a wooden memorial plaque is to semi-regularly check the condition of the plaque. If you can spot signs of water ingress and re-treat before the water gets under the treatment then all your wooden plaques will last a very long time. The issues only occur once the water has got in under the treatment. At this point a more thorough refurbishment will be required. 

Here at The Sign Maker we do offer refurbishments if you want us to help restore old plaques. Be sure to contact us for more information. 

Natural Burials – The Natural Choice?

Posted on by Kate

What is a Natural Burial?

 

Natural burials have burst onto the scene for memorial services and its quickly becoming a popular choice, but why? The following blog dives into what a Natural burial is and why more people are opting for one instead of a traditional burial. 

Natural burials, also known as green burials, are an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional burial methods. This practice focuses on simplicity and sustainability, aiming to minimise the environmental impact typically associated with conventional burials.

The key features of a natural burial ground include:

Eco-Friendly Practices:

  • Biodegradable Materials: Natural burials utilise biodegradable coffins, shrouds, and urns made from materials such as bamboo, wicker, cardboard, or untreated wood. These materials decompose naturally, allowing the body to return to the earth.
  • No Embalming: The use of toxic embalming fluids is avoided, ensuring that no harmful chemicals are released into the soil.

Natural Settings:

  • Woodland Burial Grounds: Bodies are interred in natural settings such as meadows, woodlands, or designated natural burial sites. These areas are often protected and maintained to support local ecosystems and wildlife.
  • Minimal Landscaping: Grave sites are marked with natural stones, wooden plaques, or indigenous plants rather than traditional headstones, maintaining the natural appearance of the burial ground.

 

Natural Burial Grounds and Woodland Burials.

Why are Natural Burial Grounds becoming popular?

 

Caring about nature and the environment is a change that we have all seen across the country. More and more individuals are making changes in their everyday lives to improve their effects on the environment and this has filtered down into the choices people are making to their funeral plans. Choosing a natural burials helps protect the environment by reducing pollution and conserving resources. Additionally, they contribute to the creation and maintenance of green spaces.

Another reason why natural burials have become a more popular choice is it that families often have the freedom to create personalised ceremonies that reflect the beliefs and values of the deceased, without the constraints of conventional funeral practices.

Finally, they can be more affordable than traditional burials, as they avoid the costs associated with embalming, expensive caskets, and elaborate grave markers.

Here at UK memorials we sell grave markers designed specifically for Green Burials, click here to learn all about these. 

Guide To Buying A Wooden Casket

Posted on by Kate

Wooden Caskets are designed for the storage of ashes and are popular after crematorial funeral services. At UK memorials, they are crafted using solid timber and can be designed with or without an engraved plaque. Their simple and elegant appearance is just one part of what gives them their high-quality finish and they can be crafted using a small variety of different timbers to give you the finish that you are looking for.

We appreciate that planning a memorial be challenging which is why we wanted to create this blog to explore some of the casket options we have. 

Standard Wooden Casket

The special thing about a wooden casket made at UK Memorials is the high-quality feel. Made from Solid Oak, treated in Satin Varnish or to look like Mahogany or can be painted, the standard caskets are attractive, well made and designed to last – the perfect way to store your loved ones’ ashes safely and securely. The lids of the caskets are permanently fixed to the main body of the box. 

In additional to the standard ash casket, in the same style we also stock small, double and tall caskets. 

In order to place the ashes within the box, you can open it by unscrewing the bottom. The standard solid oak caskets are perhaps the most popular choice here, but all three make a perfectly fitting tribute.

Wording can be engraved directly onto the wood of the casket and this is not just restricted to the top but we can laser engrave the sides as well. 

Many like to include a plaque in the design of the casket (though others prefer to have the lettering and detailing engraved directly into the wood which has a beautiful effect). The plaques can be made from traditional brass, coloured aluminium or acrylic laminate – all three fitting with the wooden caskets well. The brass plaques do require a little upkeep to keep it looking clean and cared for whereas the other plaques require little to no maintenance. 

Small images and pictures can be included within any of our engraving options which is a lovely way to personalise a casket. You can speak to us about what you are looking for and we will send you a quote and a proof copy of the design for you to approve. 

Shaped Corners

Similar to the standard caskets in the treatments is our Shaped Corner Ash Caskets, with either a natural oak, mahogany finish or painted. These caskets boast more detailed features such as the pillar corners. These caskets come with flat edges to plaques can applied to the sides as well as the top. 

 

Shaped Oak Casket with Pillars.

Woodland Ash Caskets

The woodland ash caskets are designed without any metal fixtures. These caskets are particularly popular (and necessary) for natural burials. Some natural burial sites will specify that the casket should not have metal within it so that it remains as natural as possible. The fixtures, fittings and fixings are secured with wooden dowels. Though they are similar in appearance to other caskets, they are made using only natural materials which is sometimes a preferable choice. 

The engraving for these caskets can be lasered directly into the wood as opposed to having an additional metal plaque. The finish of these pieces is stunning and it would make a special but fitting tribute to a loved one. 

Why Choose UK Memorials

The task of designing and choosing a casket can be overwhelming, so we want to reassure you that we have an incredible customer service team who can take you through each step of the process. 

You will receive proof of the design for you to approve before production begins in the workshop (unless the casket is left plain without any engraving), and our craftsmen take the greatest of care with each piece that they make. This allows you to confirm the layout of your design and ask any questions to ensure the casket is exactly what you have in mind. 

You can find out more information about the wooden caskets we make here, or to browse the full memorial range, click here. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us for more information. We’d love to hear from you. 

Telephone – 01769 561355

Email – Sales@sign-maker.net

Website – https://uk-memorials.net/

Online Shop – https://www.sign-maker.co.uk/wooden-caskets-266-c.asp

Lawn Memorials

Posted on by Kate

Welcome back to our blog, we hope you are all well. Today we wanted to bring you a blog about Lawn Memorials and the different types we make. 

What are Lawn Memorials

Lawn memorials are thicker stone or wooden plaques that are placed in lawn areas to remember and cherish a loved one. They are very in keeping with the natural surroundings that they are so often placed in. Some natural burial sites will allow lawn memorials but others choose to celebrate their loved one in gardens or sentimental places and a lawn memorial is a beautiful way to do this. 

The Types of Lawn Memorials we craft

When it comes to lawn memorials here at UK Memorials we craft either wooden or stone lawn memorials. Both are beautiful materials with very different qualities, but both can be truly bespoke and unique thanks to the help of our highly skilled designer who can help to create a lovely design. 

Wooden Lawn Memorials

Our wooden lawn memorials are made onsite by our skilled carpenters from raw timber to finished memorials. You can choose to have your lawn memorial in one of three beautiful timbers Oak, Iroko and Balau. 

Oak is very traditional with a beautiful grain. It is a very hard and durable timber but just like all timber does require regular maintenance to keep it from water damage. With Oak, we will either treat with Satin Varnish or Devon Oil depending on your requirements. 

Oak lawn memorials are traditional material and a very popular choice here at UK Memorials.

Iroko is a stunning, rich timber with a pretty grain. Again this is a fantastic hardwood which is very stable and naturally oil which makes it an excellent choice for outdoor use. Because it is so naturally oily we only treat with an oil and do not varnish. The colour in Iroko can vary from a light golden brown to a dark chocolate brown colour.

Iroko memorials show case a beautiful redish brown colour and weather well.

Finally, we have a timber called Balau. It is not as pretty as Oak but it is a very hard, stable wood that weathers well in wetter conditions. It is full of its own natural oils which makes it a good choice for lawn memorials. The colour will vary from a light yellow-brown to brown. 

The wooden memorials can have the wording/images simply lasered onto the wood which is a very popular option as it is very natural and provides a brown/burnt finish. While others like to have the wording/images painted. 

Balau Lawn memorials are an excellent choice due to their natural oils and longevity.

Stone Memorials

The other option available for lawn memorials is stone, here at UK Memorials we create stone lawn memorials in either slate or granite. Slate is a very popular choice because it has a very understated, elegant look. The slate lawn memorials can come in 20mm, 30mm, 50mm and 75mm thick and can be cut to virtually any size but we do have some standard/recommended sizes on our website. Some customers choose to simply have the wording blasted and left while others like to have the letters painted. We have a good selection of stock paint colours to choose from. Finally, with slate lawn memorials we recommend treating them with oil for a darker finish, however if you would prefer to have them left natural we can do this as well. 

Lovely, high-quality slate lawn memorials made in North Devon at UK Memorials.

As mentioned before we do also make lawn memorials from granite. We stock 4 main different granite colours including, Celtic Grey, Black, Classic Dark Grey and Kerula Green. Granite is a lovely, rich material that oozes quality. It comes in a range of thickness and sizes all of which can be seen on our website. Again, just like the slate some customers choose to have the lettering left natural while others choose to have it painted. Popular combinations include Black Granite with Gold lettering and Celtic Grey Granite with Black lettering. 

Beautiful, high quality granite memorials crafted by our Stone Masons here at UK Memorials.

Further Information 

We hope you have found today’s blog insightful and if you would like to know more about our lawn memorials contact us using any of the methods listed below.

Website

Tel – 01769 618585

Email – sales@uk-memorials.net

Wooden Crosses

Posted on by Kate

Everything you need to know about Wooden Crosses

Here at UK Memorials, we have highly skilled carpenters onsite who spend time creating quality wooden crosses. They are often used for a variety of reasons, from grave markers before the headstone is set, as a memorial in a garden or used for woodland burials. Our wooden crosses come in six different sizes ranging from small to XX- large. They are usually made from traditional oak but can be made from our other timbers too which include the likes of Iroko, Sapele and more. At UK Memorials we feel it is important that each cross is bespoke and unique, that is why we provide an abundance of choice.

The Design

With designers onsite and a huge selection of fonts and images to choose you can have a truly unique wooden cross. Take a look at the fonts and images and send us in some information around what you might like. Then let our designer create a beautiful proof for your approval. Not quite happy with the look, no problem we can switch up the font, layout and image to meet your satisfaction. Only until you are 100% happy with the design will we go into production.

High-quality, bespoke wooden crosses made by craftsmen at UK Memorials.

Additional Plaques

Although many of our customers choose to have the wording lasered directly onto the wooden cross, others have opted to have a plaque. You can choose from a variety of engraved plaques including brass which is very traditional. Lasered Acrylic laminate for a long-lasting plaque that is also budget-friendly or a bronze plaque for a more luxurious finish. A couple of our customers have opted for something completely different such as a rustic slate lasered and mounted onto the cross.

Bespoke wooden crosses with additional plaques created by UK Memorials.

Further Information

Regardless of what style or look you opt for, you can be assured that when you purchase from UK Memorials you will receive excellent customer service and a high-quality product to match. If you would like more information on these wooden crosses be sure to get in touch using any of the methods below:

Tel – 01769 561355
Email – sales@uk-memorials.net

Beautiful wooden memorial crosses by UK Memorials.
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