Heidi Klum’s role as the queen of Halloween is a commitment all year long. 

After all, the America’s Got Talent judge—who completely transformed into E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial for her annual New York party—recently shared just how in-depth the planning process went for her and husband Tom Kaulitz’s costumes. 

“It took one year to get ready,” she explained to E! News on the red carpet for her 23rd Annual Halloween Party presented by Butterfinger, Mattel, and Prime Video at Hard Rock Hotel New York. “We started at 10 a.m. this morning. We just got ready, we just came down.” 

The 51-year-old—mom to Leni, 20, from her relationship with Flavio Briatore, and shares kids Henry, 19, Johan, 17, and Lou, 15, with ex-husband Seal—emphasized that the prep took “one full year,” and Tom shared a bit on just how the entire thing came together.

“It took a whole team of amazing people,” he added. “And lots of planning.”

The planning aspect comes as no surprise, as the couple’s costumes included giant, remote controlled heads, 3-D printed suits and hours in the makeup chair.