Embalming is only required when death was caused by a communicable disease or if the body is to be transported across state lines. However, embalming may be a practical necessity if you select an open casket ceremony. Whether preplanning your own funeral or making arrangements when a relative dies, you will be selecting items that are both desired and affordable. If a cemetery burial is desired, it will generally include the purchase of a vault, burial plot, marker or monument, and fees to open and close the grave. Above ground burial in a mausoleum is an alternative to an earth burial, but it is usually more costly.
Most cemeteries require a vault or grave liner.
These are containers which enclose the casket when it is placed in the ground. The more expensive vaults are usually waterproof and claim to protect the remains, although there is no proof of this. The cost of a grave marker or monument depends on its size, material, design, and craftsmanship. Funeral Alternatives American attitudes about funerals are changing. There is a trend toward cutting funeral costs.