The 7 outfits here run from a cardboard gingerbread cutout and a thrifted green dress to ready-made velvet elf sets and soft Grinch robes, so effort ranges from an afternoon of marker work to almost none.
What decides your pick is how much each person in the family will actually wear: a costume lover can commit to a tree with plastic ornaments, while the relative who refuses anything silly does better in striped pajamas or a sweater with reindeer on it.
1. Gingerbread Costume
A flat cardboard head and torso keeps a gingerbread costume cheap, and the brown box board already looks like baked dough. Paint or marker works for the icing details: a smile, buttons, wavy trim at the edges.
Cut the arm and neck holes larger than you think you need. Cardboard doesn’t bend, so a snug opening will make you miserable by the second cookie joke.
I like this one for a family because everyone can build their own and nobody needs to sew.
2. Christmas Tree Costume
Plastic ornaments beat glass, since you will be hugging relatives. Hold a small wrapped gift and you have a tree with something underneath it.
If you own no green dress, a thrifted one is the one purchase I would make.
3. Ugly Christmas Sweater
Skip the store aisle and decorate a plain green sweater yourself with tinsel and small ornaments, so the garishness is yours.
Sew or glue the pieces on firmly, and expect to keep the sweater as a one-use garment. A hat adds the finishing joke for almost no money.
I would pick this for the relative who refuses to wear a costume.
4. Matching Christmas Pajamas
Red and white stripes, bought in every size from adult to child, make a family look like one deliberate joke. Add sunglasses and the cozy set turns funny.
Order early so sizes match across everyone in the group, and check that the stripe pattern is the same in the adult and kids’ versions.
Pajamas are also the most comfortable option on this list, which matters when the photo session drags on.
Wear them again Christmas morning.
5. Matching Penguin Costumes
Black clothes and a white top are most of a penguin already; the orange paper beak is what makes people laugh.
Cut the beaks from orange paper and attach them to a black head covering, such as a hood or cap.
Everyone probably owns the base layers, so the cost stays close to a pack of paper. Make the beaks the same size, because the matching is the joke.
A group of four or more reads best, since one penguin is just a person in black.
6. Green Elf Costume
Green velvet with red trim and a matching belt is the classic elf shape, and velvet gives it a richer look than felt.
Buy a ready-made set if you want the shortcut; it takes minutes instead of an evening of sewing.
Wear it with total commitment. A costume this simple depends on you playing along, so commit to the bit and let the laughing be the accessory.
A plain hoodie on the person next to you makes the elf funnier by contrast.
7. Grinch Hooded Robe
A hooded robe is the lowest-effort costume a family can wear: you put it on, pull up the hood, and the green does the talking.
Because it is a robe, it sits over whatever you already have on, and a pair of Christmas-print shorts underneath keeps the look playful.
Choose a robe that is soft and roomy. It doubles as loungewear, so you stay comfortable through a long gathering.
I would pick this for the family member who wants a laugh but not a full costume. Hood up for the photo, hood down to eat.
Tips for Family Photoshoots
Start with where the photos will happen. Indoors, check the wall color and the lighting before anyone picks a shirt; outdoors, let the weather and the surroundings decide what people wear.
Coordinating doesn’t mean matching. Choose a palette like navy, maroon and gray, then let each person wear a different shade from it.
Patterns photograph best when only one person wears one: plaid pants or a printed sweater on that person, with everyone else in solid colors that pull from the pattern.
Mixing textures such as denim, velvet and corduroy adds depth without competing for attention.
Comfort shows up on faces. Scratchy or overly formal clothes lead to unhappy expressions, so test everything before the day.
Leave room for personality, too. Outfits that match too closely hide it.
Accessorizing for Festivity
Small touches do more than a full costume.
Bring a few and wear them for just some of the shots, so the rest of the set stays clean.
Strings of warm white twinkle lights hung behind the group make an easy indoor backdrop, and they glow softly on camera. Hang them behind the group and they give the frame a warm glow.
A few ornaments, pinned on a lapel or hung from a headband, bring in a spot of red, gold or green. Have people hold one or hang a few within the frame.
Layering for Comfort
December weather is unpredictable, so build each outfit in layers. Cardigans, vests and flannel shirts keep everyone warm between takes, and the extra texture gives the photo some depth.
A coat, cardigan or shawl does double duty: it finishes the outfit and gives you a second look for the same session. Take it off halfway through and the photos look like 2 different shoots.
Texture helps here too. Velvet and tweed both have a heavy, rich texture, so one dress or blazer in the stack looks polished in photos.
Pack one extra layer per person, and keep it within the family’s color palette.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear for holiday family photos?
Pick outfits that suit your family’s personality and feel comfortable, then fit them to the setting. Backdrop matters: a busy floral wallpaper fights patterned shirts, while a plain wall or open sky lets you wear almost anything.
Comfort decides whether faces look relaxed or pinched, so have everyone wear their outfit around the house for 20 minutes first.
How do I coordinate family Christmas outfits?
Pick 3 colors that share a mood, like burgundy, cream and forest green, then assign each family member a different one.
Matching exactly hides personality, so coordinating works better. One pattern per group photo is the limit: if Dad wears buffalo plaid, everyone else stays solid.
How do I mix patterns and textures in family photos?
Let only one person wear a pattern and put everyone else in solid colors drawn from it.
Knit sweaters, flannel and fleece sit together without clashing because texture is not pattern. A velvet or tweed dress or blazer also looks polished on camera.
What is an easy funny Christmas costume for a relative who won’t dress up?
A Grinch hooded robe or a decorated ugly sweater works best. A Grinch robe fits over jeans and a T-shirt, so the reluctant relative gets full credit with zero commitment.
For the sweater, add tinsel and small ornaments to a plain green one, sewn or glued on firmly, and top it with a hat.
How can a group of four or more dress as penguins?
Everyone wears black clothes with a white top and an orange paper beak attached to a black hood or cap.
Black clothes and white paper are things most families already have, which drops the total to about $4. Identical beaks make the group read as a unit instead of 4 separate attempts.
How do I keep everyone comfortable during a long Christmas photo session?
Dress everyone in layers, such as cardigans, vests and flannel shirts, so they stay warm between takes.
Bring a cardigan or pullover for each person in a color that already fits the plan. When comfort wins, matching pajamas beat every other option by a wide margin.
