How to Choose a Pet Memorial: A Thoughtful Guide

Losing a pet is a grief that many people feel deeply but don't always know how to mark. A personalised memorial can be a quiet, lasting way to honour the animal that shared your life.

At Moon Groves we create handmade pet memorial plaques, crosses & tribute pieces from our workshop in Ivybridge, Devon. Here's how to think about choosing the right one.

Indoor or Outdoor?

Think about where the memorial will live. An indoor plaque suits a shelf or mantelpiece & can be more detailed. An outdoor piece, like our wooden cross grave markers or garden memorial stakes, needs to be made from durable timber & properly finished to withstand the elements. All our outdoor pieces are treated for weather resistance.

What to Personalise

The most meaningful memorials include the pet's name, their years of life & a short phrase that captures who they were. We can also engrave a paw print, a portrait silhouette or a design of your choice. Keep it simple — a name & a single line often says more than a paragraph.

Choosing the Right Material

We work with sweet chestnut, Scandinavian pine, Corian & slate depending on the piece. Sweet chestnut is beautiful & robust, ideal for lasting outdoor memorials. Our Corian memorial plaques work beautifully both indoors & out — they're tough, weather-resistant & engrave to a crisp, permanent finish. Slate has a cool, refined look that suits indoor tributes.

A Note on Timing

There's no right time to order a memorial. Some families want one immediately; others wait weeks or months. We're here whenever you're ready & we'll treat every order with the same quiet care.

View our memorial collection →