While the terms grave marker and headstone are often used interchangeably, the two terms describe two different things. They both have the same job: to mark where a grave is and to have information about the deceased. However, there are differences in how they do their jobs.
Grave Markers
A grave marker is a plaque laid flush with or just a little above the ground. They can be made of metal or stone, depending on the wishes of those buying the marker. These markers are generally required in many new cemeteries because they make it easier for the groundskeepers to maintain the grounds. The fact that they are so low to the ground means that the marker won't cause any damage to the machinery necessary to take care of the grounds. Outside of that requirement, it's possible to decorate the markers in all kinds of ways, including having pictures etched into them. Depending on the cemetery, you may also be able to get a double grave marker to cover adjacent graves for family members.
Headstones
A headstone is a raised marker. These are the stones that you probably think of when you think of markers on graves. They are generally raised and can even be large enough to be monuments.
Monuments can take a lot of forms, including things like angels and obelisks, which are both relatively common when it comes to grave monuments. The nice thing about headstones is that they can take a lot of forms, depending on what kind of material you get the marker made out of. The marker can be of a traditional shape, or you can go with something shaped like a bench, a log, or even cars, or guitars. Many cemeteries will allow headstones in certain sections of the cemetery. They may have rules about what kind of headstones you can go with, what sizes they can be, and what shape they will allow. Make sure that you check on those rules if you want to have something specific to mark your or your loved one's grave.
Grave markers and headstones may do the same job, but they are different things. Knowing the differences and what the cemetery may and may not allow will make it easier for you to make the decision as to what you are going to put on the grave of your loved one when the time comes to do so.
After losing a loved one a few years ago, I could tell that there were some things we needed to do in order to plan for future events. I was really nervous about the idea of being faced with losing a family member who had an income, so we started going through and working on taking care of future plans. We were able to find a great funeral home that offered exactly what we were looking for, and we talked with them about our wishes. After we had all of our arrangements made, I was amazed with how much happier I felt. Read more on this blog to learn about funeral homes.