Graveyard Costume
Bring the spooky cemetery to life with moss, tombstones, and ghosts.
The Graveyard costume is a classic, atmospheric Halloween choice that channels the eerie energy of a haunted cemetery. Perfect for fans of gothic horror, this look typically combines decaying, moss-covered garments with tombstone props, skeletal accents, or ghostly shrouds. It is highly customizable, allowing you to go as a literal walking cemetery plot or a haunting graveyard spirit.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~60 min
- Budget
- $30–85
Try it on
See yourself as Graveyard
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Graveyard costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Graveyard costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Tattered grey or black base clothing
A long, distressed grey dress, a tattered cloak, or a dark suit that looks like it has been buried underground.
DIY: Take an old black or grey maxi dress or suit and shred the hemline and sleeves with scissors.
Artificial moss and ivy vines
Green and brown craft moss or faux ivy strands to simulate years of overgrowth.
DIY: Use green yarn, shredded green sponge, or felt scraps glued to the fabric.
Lightweight foam tombstone
A small, weathered foam grave marker that can be worn on the back or carried as a prop.
DIY: Cut a tombstone shape out of thick cardboard, paint it textured grey, and write 'RIP' in black marker.
Fake skeleton hands or bones
Plastic skeleton hands to clip into your hair, pin to your shoulders, or carry.
DIY: Draw bone structures directly onto black gloves using white fabric paint.
Grey and white face paint
Non-toxic face makeup to create a pale, sunken, ghostly complexion.
DIY: Mix cornstarch, a dab of cold cream, and a drop of black food coloring for a DIY pale grey base.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Graveyard costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Distress your base clothing by cutting jagged holes, fraying the edges, and rubbing dirt or dark eyeshadow onto the fabric for a weathered look.
- 2
Use fabric glue or safety pins to attach clumps of artificial moss and faux ivy vines across the shoulders, chest, and hem of your outfit.
- 3
If wearing the tombstone, attach elastic straps to the back of the foam grave marker so you can wear it like a backpack, or secure it to a wide belt.
- 4
Tuck plastic skeleton hands or fake spiders into the mossy areas of your costume for added creepy detail.
- 5
Apply pale grey or white face paint to your face, neck, and hands, shading your eye sockets and cheekbones with dark grey or black shadow.
- 6
Style your hair to look messy, dusty, and windblown, securing it with hairspray.
Makeup & hair
Create a pale, gaunt complexion using white and light grey face paint. Heavily contour the hollows of your cheeks and eyes with dark grey or black eyeshadow. Style your hair in a messy, backcombed nest, dusting it with baby powder or grey hair spray for an ash-covered, dusty appearance.
Graveyard for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One person dresses as a mossy tombstone/graveyard plot, while the other goes as a Victorian cemetery ghost or weeping bride.
- group
- A 'graveyard shift' group where everyone dresses as different cemetery elements: a tombstone, a skeleton, a ghost, and a grim reaper.
- kids
- A cute, lightweight foam tombstone tunic worn over black clothes with green tinsel 'grass' and plastic spiders.
- Plus size
- A loose, flowing black or grey kaftan or hooded cloak decorated with lightweight faux moss and ivy draping.
- pet
- A lightweight, soft felt tombstone harness that sits comfortably on your dog's back.
Tips
- Keep the tombstone prop lightweight. Use hollow craft foam or cardboard so it doesn't weigh you down during a party.
- Secure the moss well. Hot glue works best on sturdy fabrics, but fabric glue or hand-stitching prevents the moss from shedding everywhere.
- Wear dark, comfortable shoes. Since you represent the earth and graves, dark boots or distressed sneakers blend in perfectly.
- Add a misting bottle or battery-operated micro-fogger to your prop setup for a spooky, damp graveyard effect in photos.
Graveyard costume FAQ
- How do I attach a tombstone to my back for a graveyard costume?
- The easiest way is to hot-glue two elastic loops (like backpack straps) to the back of a lightweight foam tombstone, or safety-pin it directly to a sturdy jacket or harness.
- What is the best way to make fake moss look realistic?
- Mix different shades of green and brown preserved Spanish moss or floral moss, and intersperse it with fake dirt (made from coffee grounds) and plastic ivy leaves.
- Is a graveyard costume comfortable for walking around?
- Yes, if you keep the props lightweight. Opt for a flowing grey robe or tattered clothes as your base so you have full mobility.
Did you know? The word 'graveyard' historically referred specifically to a burial ground located within a churchyard, whereas 'cemetery' (derived from the Greek word for 'sleeping place') referred to larger, secular burial grounds established outside of church properties.