Till death do us part. A phrase taken from the traditional marriage vows.
Birth and death dates are the most common dates inscribed on tombstones and marriage dates are the third most commonly inscribed dates. A couple’s marriage date is often inscribed on their tombstone with a marriage symbol.
In the 19th century it was not uncommon for a husband and wife to have separate tombstones and often times they were not even buried next to each other. A common marriage inscription on old marble tombstones was two clasped hands. Although they usually signify marriage, clasped hands may have other meanings, usually depending on the cuffs.
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Greenlawn-Wapak-300x197.jpg)
Clasped hands, Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Ohio
This tombstone simply states wife and husband:
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Greenbriar-VWCo-300x140.jpg)
Greenbriar Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio.
Today most couples are buried side-by-side and share a tombstone. A marriage date is often inscribed on a couple’s shared tombstone.
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Riverside-Rockford-4-300x60.jpg)
Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, Ohio.
One of the most common tombstone marriage symbols is a pair of wedding rings, in a variety of styles:
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Decatur-Cem-AdamsCo-IN-1-300x220.jpg)
Decatur Cemetery, Adams County, Indiana.
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Decatur-Cem-AdamsCo-IN-2-300x234.jpg)
Decatur Cemetery, Adams County, Indiana.
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Immanuel-Luth-AdamsCo-IN-4-300x230.jpg)
Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Adams County, Indiana.
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Riverside-Rockford-2.jpg)
Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, Ohio.
The wedding cross, a cross with intertwined wedding bands:
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Immanuel-Luth-AdamsCo-IN-5-218x300.jpg)
Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Adams County, Indiana.
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Riverside-Rockford-3-300x287.jpg)
Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, Ohio.
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ZS-VWCo-4-1-264x300.jpg)
Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Ohio.
Another version of the wedding cross, with the Greek letter rho, similar to the Chi-Rho cross:
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ZS-VWCo-5-216x300.jpg)
Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Ohio.
Here are a few other nice tombstone marriage inscriptions:
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Willshire-Cem-1-275x300.jpg)
Willshire Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio.
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ZS-VWCo-3-300x293.jpg)
Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Ohio.
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Willshire-Cem-2-241x300.jpg)
Willshire Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio.
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ZS-VWCo-300x68.jpg)
Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Ohio.
I really like the following verse:
![](https://karenmillerbennett.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ZS-VWCo-4-2-300x61.jpg)
Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Ohio.