When two lives have been intertwined for years—sometimes decades—it’s natural to wonder whether the final resting place can reflect that same closeness. Families often ask, “Can you be buried with your partner?” and the honest answer is yes, many times you can. But the way it works depends on the cemetery, local rules, and what you and your partner actually want: two graves side by side, a double-depth grave, adjoining mausoleum crypts, or a cremation plan with a shared urn.
If you’re reading this during a loss, this can feel like one more decision you didn’t ask for. If you’re reading it while planning ahead, it can feel oddly intimate—like you’re putting words around something that’s been understood without saying. Either way, this guide walks you through the most common couples options, along with the cremation choices that often accompany them: cremation urns, cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, keepsake urns, cremation jewelry, and cremation necklaces. The goal isn’t to push you toward one answer. It’s to help you ask better questions, so your plan feels steady and respected.
What couples usually mean by “together”
“Together” can mean a lot of things. For some couples, it’s a single shared burial space. For others, it’s two separate spaces with one shared memorial marker. And for many modern families, it’s a plan that makes room for time: one partner is buried now, the other later; or one partner chooses burial while the other chooses cremation. The most helpful starting point is not a product or a contract—it’s funeral planning that clarifies the “why” behind the choice.
That’s also why cemetery policy matters so much. Cemeteries are governed by their own rules about what can be placed in a grave, how deep interments can be, whether urns can be buried in an existing plot, and what kinds of markers are allowed. Even neighboring cemeteries can differ. So as you read through the options below, keep one simple idea in mind: you’re choosing a relationship story and a logistics plan at the same time.
Couples burial plots: side-by-side and companion spaces
A “couples plot” is often called a companion plot. That can mean two adjacent graves purchased together, or one grave space designed to accommodate two people in a specific configuration. If you want a traditional cemetery visit location—one place to stand, one stone to touch, one shared point of remembrance—this is where most couples begin.
Side-by-side plots
Side-by-side plots are exactly what they sound like: two graves next to each other, often sold as a pair. Families like this option because it’s straightforward, it usually accommodates standard casket burial, and it can be paired with a single companion headstone or two coordinated markers. It can also make room for flexibility if one partner wants cremation later; some cemeteries allow an urn to be buried in a full-size grave, but you’ll want to confirm that policy up front.
Emotionally, side-by-side feels familiar. Practically, it can mean paying for two grave spaces, and it can involve two sets of opening-and-closing fees over time. Some cemeteries also have designated “companion sections,” while others allow adjacent purchases anywhere space is available.
Double depth graves and “two caskets one plot” questions
When people ask about a double depth grave or “two caskets one plot,” they’re usually describing a stacked burial arrangement: one casket is placed deeper, and a second casket can later be placed above it. Many cemeteries either allow this broadly or have specific sections set aside for it. As the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) explains, “double depth” refers to placing one casket at an approximate depth (often around seven feet), with the second interment placed above at standard depth when the time comes.
This option can be appealing when couples want to share a single gravespace but also want a traditional casket burial. It may reduce the amount of cemetery land used, and some families find comfort in the simplicity of “one place, one plot.” But it also raises questions you’ll want answered clearly: Does the cemetery allow double depth in the section you prefer? Are there special vault or liner requirements? Will the memorial marker be one stone or two? And if one partner is cremated, can an urn be interred in the same grave space instead of (or in addition to) a second casket?
If you’re exploring this, it helps to treat it as a conversation, not a checkbox. “Double depth” can mean different things depending on local soil, water tables, and cemetery equipment. Ask the cemetery to describe their standard practice in plain language and put it in writing.
Mausoleums and crypts: another way to share a resting place
For some couples, above-ground entombment feels more secure, more accessible, or simply more fitting. Community mausoleums may offer side-by-side crypts or companion crypt configurations that allow two people to be entombed in one memorial space, depending on design. Many cemeteries also offer cremation columbariums, where niches can be purchased for one person or for two.
If you’re considering this route, think about what “together” looks like in practice. A mausoleum can offer shelter for visitors in harsh weather and can provide a very clear, stable location for remembrance. A columbarium niche can do something similar for cremation, often with less ground-space cost than a full burial plot, though niche availability varies by region and cemetery.
Because these options are highly specific to the cemetery, your best next step is usually measurements and rules, not general advice. If the plan involves cremation, ask for the niche’s interior dimensions and any material requirements for urns (some niches require specific types of sealing or specific shapes).
Why cremation planning is now part of couples planning
More couples are considering cremation because cremation has become a majority choice in the United States. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the U.S. cremation rate was projected to reach 61.9% in 2024. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) also tracks cremation data and trends year over year, showing continued growth with projections extending into the coming years.
What that means for families is simple: the “after” decisions matter more than ever. Not just “burial or cremation,” but what comes next—where the ashes will be kept, shared, scattered, buried, or placed in a niche. That’s where cremation urns for ashes, companion urns, keepsakes, and jewelry become part of the same couples conversation as plots and headstones.
Companion urns: an urn for two people, with two different approaches
A companion urn is often described as an urn for two people. Sometimes it’s one vessel with a single interior space that holds both sets of cremated remains. Other times it’s a two-chamber design with separate compartments. The “right” approach is deeply personal. Some couples want the symbolism of complete togetherness in one shared interior. Others want closeness without blending—two compartments, one shared exterior memorial.
If you want an overview that’s written specifically for families navigating this question, Funeral.com’s Journal guide What Is a Companion Urn? A Guide to Double Urns for Couples and Loved Ones explains how companion designs work and how families think about placement and sharing.
When you’re ready to compare styles, it can help to start with the broader view of cremation urns for ashes and then narrow down to your “together” plan. Some couples choose a single companion urn as the primary vessel and pair it with additional sharing options. Others prefer two matching urns placed together in a niche, a shared family cabinet, or a companion burial plan.
Companion urn size: what families should know
Families often worry about companion urn size, and that concern is valid. A commonly used rule of thumb is about one cubic inch per pound of body weight, but real-world factors vary. When you’re choosing a two-person urn, you’re often estimating a combined capacity and leaving a little buffer for peace of mind. If you want a calmer, step-by-step walkthrough, Funeral.com’s Choosing a Cremation Urn: Size, Material, Price, and Columbarium Niche Tips can help you translate “numbers” into practical choices.
If one partner is already cremated and you’re planning ahead for the second, it can help to choose a companion urn designed to be filled in two stages. Some families ask the funeral home to assist with the second placement later, which can reduce stress and ensure proper sealing.
Keepsake urns and small cremation urns: sharing without dividing love
Even when couples want one shared memorial, children and close family members sometimes want a small personal connection—especially when people live far apart, or when grief feels easier to carry in private moments. This is where keepsake urns and small cremation urns can make a plan feel gentler rather than complicated.
Instead of asking, “Do we split the ashes?” many families ask, “Can we keep a small portion close?” That might mean a mini urn for a child, a token urn for a sibling, or a small travel urn for anniversaries and meaningful places. Funeral.com’s keepsake urns collection focuses on those smaller tribute vessels, while the small cremation urns collection includes compact options that still feel like a “real” urn, not just a token.
If you want the emotional and practical context—how families decide what to keep, what to bury, and what to scatter—Funeral.com’s Journal post Keepsake Urns Explained is a thoughtful place to begin.
Keeping ashes at home: a common step in modern couples planning
For many couples, the plan isn’t immediate burial or immediate placement in a cemetery. Sometimes the plan is time. A partner may want to keep ashes at home for a while before deciding on permanent placement, especially if the couple is moving, selling a house, or waiting for a cemetery space to open. Sometimes it’s about waiting until both partners can be placed together, whether that’s in a companion plot or a shared niche.
Families often worry that keeping ashes at home is “not allowed” or “not respectful.” In reality, it’s common—and it’s often legal—though the rules that matter most are usually policies (cemetery requirements, niche requirements, airline screening) rather than a universal law. Funeral.com’s guide Keeping Ashes at Home walks through safe placement, sealing, and the practical considerations that come up when children, pets, or visitors are part of the household.
If the plan is to keep a primary urn at home, many families choose a durable style from the cremation urns for ashes collection and then add keepsakes later, once emotions settle enough to make those choices calmly.
Water burial and scattering at sea: when “together” is a shared place in nature
Some couples don’t picture a cemetery at all. They picture a shoreline, a lake, or a meaningful stretch of ocean where their story began. If you’re researching water burial or scattering at sea, it’s important to separate symbolism from requirements. In the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides guidance under the federal burial-at-sea framework. The EPA notes that burial at sea under the general permit is not allowed within three nautical miles from shore for ocean waters, and it outlines reporting expectations for the activity.
If your plan is ocean scattering, Funeral.com’s Journal post Scattering Ashes at Sea: Laws, Safety, and Ceremony Ideas translates the rules into practical steps and offers ceremony ideas that don’t feel performative. For couples who want a more eco-forward plan, biodegradable urns can support a water farewell. Funeral.com’s guide Biodegradable Urns: How They Work explains the difference between water-specific and ground-burial designs.
In couples planning, water-based choices are often paired with something tangible for the family to visit later—like a memorial plaque, a photo, or a small keepsake urn at home. That balance can be comforting: freedom in nature, and a steady anchor in everyday life.
What to do with ashes when families want both togetherness and flexibility
One of the most compassionate truths about cremation is that it allows for layered memorialization. You don’t have to choose only one option. Many families choose a primary plan (a companion urn, a burial, a niche) and then choose one additional “close” plan for the living. This is often where cremation jewelry enters the story—not as a trend, but as a way to carry love into ordinary days.
Cremation necklaces and other jewelry pieces usually hold a very small portion of ashes, and they can be especially meaningful when a couple’s plan involves later placement together. One partner may keep a pendant while the primary urn stays safely stored, or children may each carry a token while a companion urn remains the central memorial. If you’re comparing styles, Funeral.com’s cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces collections can help you see options side by side without guesswork. For practical details—how filling works, what “waterproof” really means, and what closures hold up best—Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry Guide is designed to reduce anxiety around the process.
When people ask what to do with ashes, the most helpful answer is often a question: “What do you want your family to be able to do with love?” Visit a place? Hold something tangible? Share something fairly? Wear something quietly? A good plan lets each person grieve in a way that fits them, without creating conflict over the primary memorial.
Pet urns for ashes: when a couple’s story includes a third heart
Couples planning often overlook one detail until it hurts: the pet who shared the home, the routines, the hard seasons, and the joy. When that loss comes, families are sometimes surprised by how deep it feels. If you’re looking for pet urns or pet urns for ashes, it helps to know that pet memorials can mirror human memorials in all the same ways—full-size urns, keepsakes, figurines, and even jewelry.
Funeral.com’s pet cremation urns collection includes a wide range of styles, while pet figurine cremation urns offer a more sculptural tribute that often feels “like them.” If your family wants to share a small amount among children or between partners, pet keepsake cremation urns can make that possible without turning it into a stressful moment. For guidance that’s written gently, the Journal post Pet Urns for Ashes explains sizing basics and the emotional “why” behind different styles.
Including a pet in a couples plan doesn’t mean combining remains or forcing symbolism. It usually means acknowledging what’s already true: love made a family, and families remember in many forms.
Costs and questions: what to ask before you commit
Even when choices are heartfelt, they also have budgets. Families searching how much does cremation cost are often trying to avoid surprises. The NFDA statistics page notes that the national median cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial in 2023 was $8,300, while the median cost of a funeral with cremation was $6,280 (figures that can change with cemetery costs, merchandise choices, and regional pricing).
Instead of trying to predict every cost, focus on getting clarity from the cemetery and funeral home. These questions usually save families the most stress:
- Does the cemetery offer a couples burial plot as side-by-side graves, a double-depth option, or both?
- For a double depth grave, what vault or liner requirements apply, and are there specific sections where double depth is allowed?
- What are the opening-and-closing fees now, and what fees apply at the second interment later?
- If one or both partners choose cremation, can cremated remains be buried in an existing grave, and how many urns are allowed per plot?
- If you’re choosing a niche, what are the interior dimensions, and are there restrictions on urn material or sealing?
- What headstone or marker rules apply (single companion marker, two markers, flush markers, upright monuments)?
- What paperwork does the cemetery require for future placement so the plan is honored years from now?
- If scattering or water burial is part of the plan, what memorialization options does the cemetery offer for families who still want a place to visit?
If you’re looking for a couples-focused cremation planning perspective, Funeral.com’s Journal post Companion Urns and Double Headstones: Planning Memorials for Two People connects cemetery choices with urn decisions in a way that feels practical, not overwhelming.
A calm way to begin: make one decision, then the next
When you’re planning as a couple—or planning after losing a partner—it can help to remember that you don’t have to solve the whole future in one sitting. You can start with the “place” decision (plot, double depth, mausoleum, niche) and then move to the “vessel” decision (cremation urns, companion urns, keepsakes). Or you can begin with what you can control today: choosing a temporary safe home plan, or selecting a primary urn while you confirm cemetery rules.
And if your heart is telling you that “together” matters, honor that. Together can be a shared gravespace. Together can be two niches side by side. Together can be a companion urn and two small keepsakes carried by children. Together can be ashes scattered at sea with a memorial plaque at home. There are many respectful ways for love to stay recognizable, even in the practical details.
Whenever you’re ready to explore options without pressure, Funeral.com’s collections for cremation urns for ashes, keepsake urns, small cremation urns, cremation jewelry, and pet urns for ashes can help you compare styles quietly, at your own pace—while the Journal guides help you turn “options” into a plan that actually fits your family.
