Priest and Nun Costume
A timeless, easy-to-assemble couples look with classic religious garments.
The Priest and Nun pairing is one of the most popular couples costumes for Halloween and themed parties. It relies on instantly recognizable, traditional religious garments that are both comfortable to wear and easy to customize. Whether you go for a traditional, spooky, or humorous vibe, this classic duo is always a hit.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~20 min
- Budget
- $30–80
Try it on
See yourself as Priest and Nun
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What you need for a Priest and Nun costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Priest and Nun costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Black Priest cassock or robe
A full-length black robe with a high collar, typically featuring a small white insert at the throat to mimic a clerical collar.
DIY: Use a long-sleeved black maxi dress or black trench coat, and insert a strip of white plastic or cardstock into the collar.
Priest stole
A long, narrow green, red, or purple fabric sash worn draped over the shoulders.
DIY: Cut a length of wide satin ribbon in green or purple and fringe the ends.
Black Nun habit and veil
A long black tunic or dress paired with a white collar piece (wimple) and a matching black veil with a white front band.
DIY: Wear a long black dress, drape a white t-shirt around your neck for the collar, and pin a black t-shirt or fabric scrap over a white headband for the veil.
Pendant neck crosses
Large gold or silver-colored plastic pectoral crosses on long cords or chains.
DIY: Cut a cross shape out of thick cardboard, wrap it in gold foil, and hang it from a black cord.
Rosary beads
A traditional beaded rosary with a small hanging cross to carry or loop around the waist.
DIY: String dark wooden beads onto a cord and attach a small plastic cross.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Priest and Nun costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
For the Priest: Put on the black cassock, ensuring the white clerical collar insert is centered and visible at the throat.
- 2
Drape the colored stole evenly over the shoulders of the priest robe.
- 3
For the Nun: Put on the black habit dress, then secure the white collar piece around the neck.
- 4
Place the white headband portion of the veil on your forehead, letting the black veil drape smoothly down your back and shoulders.
- 5
Put on the large cross necklaces and carry the rosary beads in your hands or loop them through a belt.
- 6
Finish the look with simple black dress shoes or boots for both outfits.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup minimal and natural for a traditional look, or go pale with dark eyeshadow if you are aiming for a spooky, gothic, or horror-movie style. Hair should be tucked completely inside the nun's veil, while the priest's hair should be neatly styled.
Priest and Nun for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One person dresses as the traditional priest with a collar and stole, while the other wears the classic black-and-white nun habit.
- group
- Add more members wearing monk robes, cardinal garments, or choir robes to create a full clergy group.
- kids
- Miniature versions of the black robe and habit can be made using oversized black t-shirts and simple felt collars.
- Plus size
- Look for loose-fitting, A-line black robes and habits which offer a comfortable, flowing fit for all body types.
- pet
- A small black cape with a white felt collar can easily transform a dog or cat into a mini priest.
Tips
- Wear lightweight clothing underneath the heavy polyester robes to stay cool during indoor parties.
- Secure the nun's veil with bobby pins to keep it from sliding off your head when moving around.
- If you want a scary twist, add fake blood, pale face paint, and colored contact lenses to channel horror film characters.
- Keep the props simple; carrying a small black book to represent a Bible is an easy, lightweight addition.
Priest and Nun costume FAQ
- What is the traditional outfit a nun wears called?
- The traditional clothing worn by a nun is called a habit, which typically includes a long tunic, a white collar piece called a wimple, and a veil.
- How do you make a DIY priest collar?
- You can easily make one by cutting a small rectangle of white plastic (like from an empty milk jug) or white cardstock and inserting it into the front tab of a black band-collared shirt.
- Is a priest and nun costume comfortable for walking around?
- Yes, because both costumes consist of loose-fitting robes, they are highly comfortable and allow for easy movement, though you should watch the hemline length to avoid tripping.
Did you know? The classic black-and-white design of the nun's habit was originally chosen in the Middle Ages because black and white fabrics were the cheapest and most readily available undyed materials, symbolizing poverty and simplicity.