Upright Monuments

• Upright monuments are usually found in older cemeteries, such as those in New England. They typically involve standing headstones and other types of tablets. Upright monuments can be made of granite, slate, sandstone, marble or a combination of any of the above. Granite is the most common material they're made of because they are very durable. They are often shaped as a dome, or into more elaborate designs. Some monuments are wider so, that multiple names can fit on them. Some upright monuments designed for multiple people look like two headstones joined together.
  
  

Flat Monuments

• Flat monuments lie on the ground over a grave, rising just a few inches above the earth. They can cover the entire grave or just a part of it. They are often decorated with scriptures, poems, other messages, or graphics etched on. Smaller flat monuments just contain the name and birth and death dates of the deceased person, and sometimes a short epitaph.
  
  

Companion Monuments

• A companion monument displays the names of two people, a husband and wife. Companion monuments tend to be wider than a single grave monument, with the details of the deceased's relationship to each other inscribed on the monument. A flower or heart design might also be present. Companion memorials are useful in providing a single spot in which to remember a couple, allowing families to gather in one place to pay tribute to loved ones, as noted by the Headstones.net.
  
  

Mausoleums

• Mausoleums are large, stately above-ground structures used by choice in some areas -- and by necessity in others. For example, in Louisiana, mausoleums are strongly recommended and widely used at cemeteries, because the water table is very near the surface. Mausoleums can be made for an individual, a couple, a small group of people or even entire extended families. They are usually elaborate and ornate, sometimes decorated with stained glass, statuary and doors. Mausoleums are generally the most expensive type of monument.