contact the cemetary trust - they will have an idea of who other people have used (as you pay a percentage of the value of the headstone to the cemetary for them to "maintain" the site)
the cost varies immensely depending on how elaborate you go, how much writing, whether it is a simple site to build the stone on, or if, like my BIL, they have to shape it around the side of a hill (so one end needed to be built up). it can take several weeks to have them designed - they will draw up drafts of what is to be written, and a quote of cost, and will send them to you to look over and accept/alter/decline. you pay a deposit on deciding to go with them, and the balance isn't paid until it is in place AND has received your approval - if it is installed and it's not what you agreed to, you can speak to them to have it altered. we dealt with Waites Robson Stonemasones and they were lovely - very compassionate and worked with us at length to get everything exactly as we wanted it. we were sent drafts more than once, and they were really helpful in designing the headstones we needed done (we had to have one placed for DH's brother, and alter his parents one to include his mothers name)
it is not an easy decision to make as to what you want - i would advise that you not "settle" for something that is not what you want, just so that you can afford to get it done more quickly to meet a certain deadline. i completely understand you wanting to have it in place by Ianto's first birthday, dont' get me wrong! i just know that even 40 years after my mum's little sister passed away, her parents regretted getting her a headstone that was what they could afford to do quickly, not what they really wanted kwim? for your own sake, it is better to get your design sorted, get your quotes, and work on saving the money, then to save some money and compromise to get something done quickly.
Yeah, you're right BG, that's one of the other things that plays on my mind. Do I want it by a deadline (yes!) or do I want the best I can get (yes!)? I suppose a little of it is a kind of jealousy as well - there's a few headstones in "our area" already, and we're only just coming up to the one-year anniversary of that bit opening. Even the two little boys that have been put in after Ianto have plaques (though I've decided I definitely want a headstone, not a plaque)
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