For those inseparable in life, companion urns ensure their bond remains unbroken. Many couples who wish to be memorialized together may not be aware of all the choices or important considerations involved. In this guide, we share our best do's and don'ts for shared memorialization from paired engravings to popular loving messages to niche strategies. 

 

Ebony Cultured Marble Urn for Two (by MacKenzie) | SMK-200EB

Companion Urns Hold The Cremated Remains of Two People

It’s important for families to understand that while all companion urns (sometimes called double urns) are designed to hold two individuals, not all achieve this goal in the same way. Some, like the MacKenzie Ebony Cultured Marble Urn for Two, provide separate compartments for each person. While others, like the Arden Walnut Wood Urn, are single-compartment designs intended for mingling cremated remains. Be sure to ask families about their preference—some may wish to show unity by literally blending their cremated remains together, while others may be content with simply being memorialized together.

 

 Arch Cultured Marble Urn for Two | SEU-840

The Challenge of Engraving: Planning Ahead

Because couples typically pass at different times, engraving companion urns comes with its own set of challenges—especially when including a date of death. Partially finished engravings run the risk of future misaligned text or mismatched fonts due to equipment or technology changes. Additionally, most memorial companies will not engrave any urn that already holds a person's cremated remains. This policy makes early planning crucial. To avoid issues, we recommend the following strategies:

• Leave off Dates of Passing
  Families can choose to omit death dates entirely, focusing instead on a shared last name or custom phrase (see our top 10 engraved phrases below). Alternatively, they may choose to engrave only birth dates, a wedding date, or the number of years the couple spent together. 
• Opt for a Plaque
  Instead of engraving directly on the urn, separate metal nameplates may be engraved and then attached. One plaque can be engraved for the first partner, and a second created later. Since there's no need to send the urn back, this allows for more flexibility. To maintain uniformity, both engraved plaques can be newly crafted as needed to ensure consistent text and graphics.
• Postpone Engraving
  Some families prefer to wait until both partners have passed before engraving anything, ensuring a single, cohesive design. A temporary container or urn can hold the cremated remains of one spouse or partner in the meantime. 

Farewell Quotes: Top 10 Engraved Phrases for Companion Urns

Personalization can make a memorial truly special. Many families choose to engrave a couple’s shared last name or a special phrase prominently at the top, followed by individual names and dates below. Symbols like hearts, trees, or crosses are also popular. Here are our top ten most frequently requested phrases for engraving on companion urns: 

• Together Forever
• Together __ Wonderful Years
• Beloved Mother and Father
• Forever in Our Hearts
• Together in Spirit, Forever in Love
• Partners in Love and Life
• Forever by Each Other’s Side
• Our Love Story Never Ends
• Together in This Life and the Next
• A Lifetime of Love 

A Final Resting Place—or Places?

In addition to urn selection, funeral directors can guide those who wish to be memorialized together to think about their final resting place. Here are some choices for families to consider:

1. Bonded in Burial

Couples who choose to be cremated may wish to be buried together. As you know, this requires a large enough burial vault, and many families may need help navigating the process. When one partner passes before the other, they can either 1. display the first urn until both can be buried together or 2. pre-purchase a companion urn vault and proceed with the burial of one person. Later, when the second partner passes, the vault can be carefully unearthed and then reburied with both urns, allowing them to rest together forever. The Champion Graystone Urn Vault is a durable choice for companion urn burial.

2. Finding Your Families’ Niche

Columbarium niches create a shared space for memorialization. Individual urns—or a single, shared urn—can be placed in the niche when the time comes. In some cases, there may be a plaque or engraving space for a message of joint remembrance, alleviating some of the engraving challenges mentioned earlier. Our most popular columbarium niche urn is the Silver Cylinder Sheet Bronze Urn. 

3. Sustainable Farewells

More and more couples are choosing eco-friendly memorials. Some may wish to scatter their cremated remains together in a cherished location on land or water. The Paper Turtle Biodegradable Urn is large enough to fit the cremated remains of two individuals. Shaped by hand from recycled paper, the urn floats on water before slowly sinking and breaking down, gradually releasing its contents.

 

Butterfly Cremation Companion Jewelry | JDI-292

Memorials to Share and Wear

On a final note, companion cremation jewelry offers beautiful options for those wishing to be memorialized together. One of our most popular sellers, the Butterfly Companion Cremation Necklace, features two stainless steel pendants—each one wing of a single golden butterfly. Families can place the cremated remains of a different person in each pendant as a separate-but-connected keepsake honoring both lives. Another top choice is our Sterling Silver Companion Cremation Jewelry, designed to evoke the timeless image of a couple in a loving embrace. With two compartments in a singular piece, it allows families to memorialize both loved ones in one elegant, unified pendant.