If you want to be with your loved one after death, consider companion urns. Learn all you need to know about this urn type here.

Cremation is slowly becoming an increasingly popular choice for many people and, in fact, more than half of the population in the United States wants to be cremated. In comparison to a traditional burial, cremation is certainly an efficient and affordable choice while still being able to honor the life of a loved one. Once a person is cremated, their ashes are usually placed in an urn.

However, companion urns have become a very popular option in recent years. A companion urn is much like any other urn except that it is meant for the ashes of two individuals such as a married couple. Companion urns also come with unique customization options and other benefits that regular urns do not have.

Keep reading and learn more about companion urns, how they work, and how you can decide if they’re right for you or your loved ones.

What You Need To Know About Companion Urns

The first thing you should know about companion urns is that they are much larger than regular urns. This is because, after all, they have to be large enough to fit the ashes of two people. So, on average, a companion urn will be at least twice as large as a regular urn.

While married couples often choose a companion urn for when they pass away, other people may decide to get this kind of urn as well. Whatever the case, you might be wondering why a person would opt for a companion urn rather than a regular cremation urn. There are many reasons why this may be.

For example, a person may feel that a companion urn is more fitting to display his or her affection for another person, even in death. The idea of a companion urn is more or less the same idea as a married couple being buried in the same plot or in nearby plots.

Companion urns allow a couple to always be close together.

The Details

You might also be wondering what would become of a cremation person when only one person out of the couple passes away first. In that case, the deceased individual’s remains will go into one side of the companion urn while the other side remains empty for the time being. Then, when the other person passes away, his or her cremated ashes will be added to the companion urn.

While urns can be buried, many families prefer to keep their companion urns around the house. They may feel that such an urn is a comfort to keep around the house or that their loved ones are still there watching over them. More than that, companion urns are designed to be quite decorative and visually appealing.

For that reason, it makes sense to keep the urn on display. Whatever the case, a companion urn can be a convenient and meaningful choice for two people who want to be near each other after they pass away. The main challenge is to figure out how to go about dividing ashes.

The simplest way is to put a person’s entire ashes on one side of the urn and the other person’s ashes on the other side. However, some people may prefer to mix their ashes with the other deceased person’s ashes. If this is the case, it is often best to mix the ashes so that they are half and half on each side of the urn, but the exact measurements will be up to you or the wills of your loved ones.

But what are the options for companion urns and which one should you choose if you decide to get one?

Material Choices for Companion Urns

Ordinary cremation urns offer many choices when it comes to customization and design. This is also true for companion urns and perhaps even more so. After all, cremation urns have to be fitting for both parties involved.

When choosing a companion urn, the first thing you will notice is that there are many different urn materials to choose from. Some may be better than others based on durability, appearance, texture, personal preferences, and so on. For example, marble companion urns are quite popular because they are very regal.

There are many different types of marble, some that are black and white and others that have unique shades of pink, yellow, and so on. Marble is a very dense and heavy material that is also very sturdy. For that reason, a marble urn certainly wouldn’t have any trouble withstanding the test of time.

The only downside of a marble companion urn is that it would be quite heavy. After all, an ordinary marble urn is already heavy on its own, and a companion urn will be double that weight. Also, because marble is an expensive material and there is quite a lot of it in a companion urn, you should expect to pay a hefty price for a companion urn made completely of marble.

There are also metal urns. A metal urn is arguably even more durable than a marble urn. This is because a marble urn may crack if you happen to drop it on a hard surface.

A metal urn, on the other hand, is practically unbreakable, especially if you get it made out of high-quality metal. This is not to mention that metal urns are very sleek and modern in appearance and they are also easy to keep clean.

What You Need to Know

They are more affordable than marble urns but they tend to be similar in weight (although, metal urns may be slightly lighter).

Ceramic is a more traditional option for a companion urn. Ceramic urns come in many different styles and designs and they are very customizable. They are also quite light and affordable.

However, keep in mind that ceramic urns can be quite fragile. If you bump the urn in the wrong way or if you happen to drop it, it will certainly shatter into many tiny pieces. As long as you know that you will keep your ceramic companion urn in a safe place, this shouldn’t be a problem.

There are also glass and wooden companion urns, although these options are not as popular as those listed above. Glass urns are very unique as they are usually not clear but instead made of colorful blown glass. This will make the companion urn exceedingly colorful and certainly more colorful than any of the other materials mentioned before.

Wooden urns, on the other hand, are much more rustic and warm. However, they may be susceptible to moisture, especially over the years, so keep that in mind, especially if you plan to bury the urn.

Customization Options for Companion Urns

Besides different materials, there are also many unique customization choices that you can choose from for companion urns. For example, a very popular choice is to put a picture of the couple on the front of the urn. This will allow people to see just who the couple was in life.

The photo may be embedded into the front of the urn. In other cases, a copy of a particular photo may be etched into the material of the urn itself. This is a popular option for wooden companion urns or those that are made of stone such as marble or granite.

There are even companion urns that are biodegradable. Such an urn is made out of a material that will easily degrade when left out in nature such as a special type of cardboard or paper. A biodegradable urn is a nice option for those who want their ashes to be left out in nature somewhere such as in a forest, a river, or the ocean.

A biodegradable urn is also a good option if you plan to bury the urn. You can also decide on the structure of the companion urn. For example, some companion urns may consist of only one vessel that both ashes will fit into.

On the other hand, some companion urns consist of two individual urns to fit the two individual ashes. Whatever the case, the two designs serve the same purpose.

All About Companion Urns

Companion urns are quite versatile and come in many different designs and materials to house a couple after they pass away. A companion urn is a great choice for couples who want to stay together even after they pass. There are many customization options for this kind of urn such as biodegradable options, blown glass options, picture frame options, and so on.

If you want to know more about urns and cremation in general, don’t hesitate to contact us here.