Why Work With Us?

Monuments Dealer
in NJ

Hand-carved monuments (general) by Cemetery Monument Guide — 80+ years in Morris County, NJ.

Monument Specialists — Family & single monuments
Companion Monuments — Side-by-side memorial monuments
Veteran Monuments — Military monuments & insignia
Custom Granite Carving — Hand-carved in Morris County
Photo-Etched Portraits — High-contrast relief portraits
Monument Restoration — Restore & re-level aged monuments
Cemetery Compliance — Every monument meets cemetery rules
Foundation Installation — Below frost-line, level-set
American-Made Granite — Domestic & select imported stone
Over 80 Years in NJ — Family-owned since 1945
All 14 NJ Counties — Statewide installation
Multilingual Service — English · Russian · Polish
Call (201) 514-6695Get a Free Consultation
Serving all of New Jersey · English, Russian, Polish
Granite Cemetery Monument hand-carved by Cemetery Monument Guide in NJ — image 1

Monuments

Over 80 Years in NJ

Ready When You Are

Talk to a Cemetery Monument Guide craftsman today.

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

Call (201) 514-6695Email UsSchedule a Free QuoteVisit Our Showroom
Service Area

Serving All 14 NJ Counties

Cemetery Monument Guide is headquartered in Morris County, NJ, and places hand-carved cemetery monuments in cemeteries throughout all 14 New Jersey counties. From the historic grounds of Bergen and Essex to the quieter churchyard cemeteries of Warren and Sussex, our team coordinates foundation preparation, cemetery approval, and monument installation directly. Families in Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, Passaic, Hudson, Union, and Hunterdon counties are all within our regular service territory. No matter where your loved one is buried, we bring the same 80+ years of craftsmanship and care.

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

Cemetery Compliance Guide

Cemetery Regulations

New Jersey cemeteries each maintain their own rulebooks governing monument height, width, setbacks from lot lines, approved materials, and permitted inscriptions or symbols. Some sections restrict upright monuments to 30 inches; others allow full-height monuments up to 48 inches or more. Setback clearances — the required distance from the lot boundary — typically fall between 6 and 12 inches but vary by cemetery and even by section within the same cemetery. Cemetery Monument Guide confirms every applicable regulation directly with the cemetery office before fabrication begins, so the finished monument arrives correct the first time.

Foundation Requirements

New Jersey's frost line sits at approximately 36 to 42 inches below grade, and sound monument foundations must reach that depth to prevent seasonal heaving. Cemeteries throughout Morris, Bergen, and Essex counties typically require a reinforced concrete footing poured to that depth, then a granite or concrete sub-base set level before the monument is installed. Some park-style cemeteries specify a poured pad rather than a footing wall. Our installation team is familiar with the foundation standards in use across all 14 NJ counties and prepares each site to meet or exceed those requirements.

Religious Cemetery Considerations

Faith-based cemeteries in New Jersey carry additional design guidelines that Cemetery Monument Guide respects fully. Catholic cemeteries in Morris and Essex counties typically require a cross or Marian symbol on the monument face. Many Jewish cemeteries, particularly in Bergen and Passaic counties, follow traditions that limit figural imagery while welcoming Stars of David, menorahs, and Hebrew inscriptions alongside English text. Some Orthodox sections specify flat markers only, with no uprights permitted. Muslim cemeteries may specify east-facing orientation. Our design team reviews denomination-specific rules at the outset of every project so the finished monument honors both the individual and their community.

Our Collection

Our Monuments (General) Collection

Cemetery Monument

A cemetery monument is the anchor of a burial site — the piece that tells future visitors who rested here and what mattered to them. Cemetery Monument Guide crafts cemetery monuments in the full range of forms used in New Jersey cemeteries: upright tablets on die-base-cap construction, slant monuments cut at a 45-degree face for sections with height limits, flat granite monuments that lie flush or near-flush with the grade in park-style sections, bench monuments that offer a place for families to sit in reflection, and mausoleum components for above-ground entombment. Every form begins with American-made granite selected for density and color uniformity. The die is sized to the lot, the base proportioned to carry it without appearing heavy, and the cap shaped to shed rainwater cleanly. Inscriptions are hand-carved to a consistent depth that catches low-angle light and remains readable as decades pass. Portrait medallions, floral motifs, religious symbols, and custom sculptural elements are all available as hand-tooled additions. Cemetery Monument Guide has placed cemetery monuments in grounds ranging from the historic Restland Memorial Park in East Hanover to small municipal cemeteries across Warren County, always ensuring cemetery-compliant installation.

Granite Options

Cemetery Monument Guide offers four granite colors that together address the design preferences of most New Jersey families. Barre Gray, quarried in Vermont, is the most enduring choice for traditional cemetery monuments: its cool silver tone deepens over decades without developing the mottled weathering of lower-grade stones. India Red brings warmth and distinction, particularly suited to companion monuments where the rosy undertone unifies two inscribed panels. Mahogany granite, with its deep burgundy and black patterning, is chosen by families who want a monument that commands quiet attention in any season. Black Galaxy, a South Indian granite with gold flecks that catch sunlight, is popular for upright monuments where the contrast between the polished face and the hand-carved matte lettering is especially pronounced. All four options are available across Cemetery Monument Guide's complete monument line.

Custom Design Process

Every cemetery monument Cemetery Monument Guide produces begins with a conversation, not a catalog. Our design team listens to what the family wants a visitor to understand about their loved one, then translates that into a scaled drawing showing the die, base, and cap proportions, the inscription layout, and any sculptural or decorative elements. Families review and approve the drawing before any stone is ordered. Once approved, our Morris County workshop proceeds through material selection, hand-carving, polishing, and final assembly. Foundation preparation at the cemetery is coordinated with cemetery staff, and installation is completed by our own crew — not subcontractors. The family is notified when the monument is set and the site is ready for their first visit.

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Monuments process
Our Process

Our Hand-Carving Process

Every Cemetery Monument Guide cemetery monument moves through six deliberate stages from consultation to cemetery installation. First, we meet with the family to understand the life being honored, the cemetery's regulations, and the design direction — upright, slant, flat, bench, or mausoleum. Second, our designers produce a scaled drawing showing exact proportions, inscription placement, and any sculptural elements for family approval; nothing proceeds without written sign-off. Third, we select the granite slab — Barre Gray, India Red, Mahogany, or Black Galaxy — checking each block by hand for density, color consistency, and structural integrity. Fourth, our artisans hand-carve inscriptions, portraits, and relief motifs using chisels and pneumatic tools guided by decades of workshop experience; letters are cut to a uniform depth and finished by hand for crisp serifs and legible contrast. Fifth, the monument is polished, assembled, and inspected in our Morris County workshop before transport. Sixth, our own installation crew prepares the foundation at the cemetery — reaching New Jersey's frost line of 36 to 42 inches — sets the base level, and places the monument. The family receives notification when the site is ready for their first visit.

Monuments memorial installed in NJ
Voices

What Families Say

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

“From the first meeting at the Morris County showroom, the Cemetery Monument Guide team listened carefully. The finished monument looked exactly like the drawing, and the cemetery staff told us the installation was the cleanest they had seen in years. We felt respected throughout the whole process.” — Margaret, Morris 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 monuments?

Most cemetery monuments are completed within eight to twelve weeks from design approval to cemetery installation. The timeline depends on the complexity of hand-carving, the selected granite color, and the cemetery's scheduling for installation. Simpler flat markers may be completed more quickly; monuments with extensive sculptural work or portrait medallions may require additional time. We provide a specific timeline estimate after the design is approved.

Do you serve cemeteries throughout New Jersey?

Yes. Cemetery Monument Guide places monuments in cemeteries across all 14 New Jersey counties, from Morris, Bergen, and Essex in the north to Monmouth and Ocean along the Shore. Our team coordinates foundation preparation, cemetery permit requirements, and installation logistics directly with each cemetery so families do not have to manage that process themselves.

Are your memorials cemetery-compliant?

Every Cemetery Monument Guide monument is fabricated to the specific regulations of the cemetery where it will be placed. Before any granite is ordered, our staff confirms height limits, setback requirements, foundation specifications, and any faith-specific design rules with the cemetery office. The finished monument arrives ready for installation without revisions.

Can I bring my own design or photo?

Absolutely. Many families bring photographs of the deceased, sketches of symbols that held meaning, or images of monuments they admired. Our design team uses those materials as a starting point and translates them into a scaled drawing for your approval. Portrait medallions can be hand-etched from a clear photograph. All design decisions remain with the family.

Do you offer veteran companion markers?

Yes. Cemetery Monument Guide works with veteran families to coordinate government-provided markers through the VA process while also crafting companion monuments that complement or incorporate military imagery — branch insignia, service seals, or the American flag in relief. We guide families through both the VA paperwork and our private monument design process.

What languages do you serve families in?

Yes — English, Russian, and Polish.

Showroom & Gallery

See Monuments 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.

Cemetery Monument Guide Madison, NJ 07940
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Monuments · 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 (201) 514-6695