How to Choose the Perfect Halloween Costume as a Couple

There are plenty of things to love about Halloween. It falls at the peak of autumn (meaning pumpkin spice lattes and colorful leaves are officially everywhere), it's totally acceptable to eat candy for breakfast, and it gives you a chance to dress up in a costume and sport something you might never otherwise wear. And while solo costumes are fun, working together with your partner to choose a couples costume is always a more exciting option.

In general, couples' Halloween costumes can be cheesy, unique, clever, smart, funny, or silly. There are endless amounts of options, too, from pop culture-based ideas that feel trendy and of-the-moment to classic looks like Frankenstein and his bride. In fact, there are so many possibilities that it can feel nearly impossible to settle on just one.

That's why we spoke with two professional stylists who broke down everything you need to know when searching for the best look for you and your significant other. Ahead, read on to find out exactly how to choose a couples Halloween costume for the upcoming spooky season.

How to Choose a Halloween Costume as a Couple

First things first, there's no reason to select a couples Halloween costume at random. If you give yourself enough time to think and plan, you can thoughtfully come up with a great idea that suits your relationship and feels creative enough to impress others. Therefore, there are a few things to consider when putting a look together, as highlighted below.

Consider the location of your event.

One of the most important things to think about is where you'll be wearing the costume, as comfort is key, especially in October. "Will you be indoors or outdoors? You'll want to plan accordingly if you'll be outdoors in unknown weather conditions," says Grace Thomas, personal stylist and founder of BuiltGracefully. "Will you be walking around all night? You might want to think about the type of shoes you'll be wearing."

She also advises couples to consider the venue they're visiting. Like any other event, you want your outfit to be appropriate for the gathering you're attending. "Will it be family friendly or adults only? That will be an important detail to think through when deciding who or what to dress up as," Thomas adds.

Find a costume that speaks to your relationship.

Once you have the logistics down, consider what costume makes the most sense for your relationship, because according to Erika Cartledge, personal stylist and founder of Your Chic Is Showing, you'll want to wear something that represents both of you. "Think about activities you like to do together, shows or movies you like to watch, shared interests, etc.," she says. "It will be much easier to land on a costume if you're dressing up as people or things you both enjoy." 

Decide if you want to match or not.

Both Thomas and Cartledge agree that while couples Halloween costumes should coordinate, they don't have to match. "There are so many amazing couples costumes that pair well, but are two completely separate looks," Thomas says, and it really depends on the theme you choose. Sometimes it might make sense for them to match completely, and in other cases, they might just complement each other.

Have fun when searching for a look.

Of course, don't take it so seriously. "All in all, make sure you have fun with it," Thomas shares. "If Halloween is your thing, then tonight is the night to go all out!" An excellent costume idea is nice, but don't make it something you both stress—or fight—over.

The Top Couples Costume Ideas to Consider

"I think the best couples costumes are 'two of a kind,' a matching set, or a famous couple (fictional or real)," Cartledge says. "'Two of a kind' means that you might dress up like two of the same thing, but do it in your own unique way—like two nerds, two firefighters, two '90s tennis players, etc." In this case, your costumes could match completely, or you could each put your own interpretation on your look.

More specifically, for matching sets, Cartledge recommends peanut butter and jelly, ketchup and mustard, or two peas in a pod. She also suggests dressing as famous couples like "Barack and Michelle Obama, David Bowie and Iman, and Gomez and Morticia Adams," the stylist notes.

Thomas agrees, saying that pop culture costumes are her personal favorite. "They allow you to play around with your style," she shares. "Tap into your alter ego and be someone else for the day. Some of my favorite celebrity couple costumes I've seen are Danny and Sandra Dee (from Grease), and Kourtney and Travis was fun to see a few years ago."

Need a few additional ideas? To help you land on a getup that works best for you and your partner, we listed a few pop culture costume recommendations below.

Barbie and Ken

Considering that the Barbie movie was a huge hit, and the fact that it's jam-packed with fun outfits practically made for Halloween, this idea is sure to be the most fun to replicate. Have fun with your looks and mimic outfits you loved from the movie, like roller skating Barbie and Ken or cowgirl and cowboy Barbie and Ken.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ever not relevant? Since they're constantly in the news, you can really have fun with these looks and choose a moment from their relationship, like their wedding day or any red carpet appearance.

Rihanna and a Backup Dancer

Who could forget Rihanna's Superbowl half-time show, when she revealed to the world that she was pregnant in an iconic performance? Dress up as Rihanna in her red outfit and one of her backup dancers and be prepared to break out your best moves.

Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler

Fans of Yellowstone might be the only ones who get this costume, but sometimes a more niche option is fun. Plus, they have several outfit choices you can easily select.

Shiv Roy and Tom Wambsgans

Even though the Succession series has ended, it's always a fun time to dress up as Shiv and Tom. The best part? You might even already have the costumes in your closet.

Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker

They've been together for a while now, but Kourtney and Travis are always still relevant. Extra points if one of you holds up a "Travis, I'm pregnant" sign.

Aliens

Let us not forget that the U.S. government basically admitted that aliens are real in 2023. Dress up as a pair to remind everyone.

Whatever costume you pick, though, remember to have fun with it, add your own personal spin, and record your night with lots of photos.