Most brides come to us with a beautiful dress and a worried look. "I know I need accessories… but I have no idea how much I'm supposed to spend."

It's one of the questions we hear most often in our Sutton studio. And the honest answer — the one boutiques rarely give you — is that you almost certainly need less than you think, and the money you do spend should go toward pieces that transform your look and last beyond the day. Here's exactly how we'd guide you.


A Simple Starting Point: 10–15%

As a rule of thumb, plan to spend around 10–15% of your dress budget on the accessories that complete it.

If your gown is £1,200, that's roughly £120–£180 for everything else combined. A £3,000 dress? Around £300–£450. It isn't a strict law — some of our brides happily flip it, choosing a clean gown and letting a striking accessory do the talking — but it's a wonderful sanity check. The moment accessories start creeping past a quarter of your dress cost, pause and ask whether each piece is truly earning its place.

The most elegant brides we dress aren't the ones wearing the most. They're the ones who chose a few considered pieces with intention.


What Bridal Accessories Actually Cost

Prices vary by craftsmanship and materials — and here is where it pays to understand why handmade pieces cost what they do. A veil cut from soft Italian tulle and finished by hand simply photographs and falls differently from a mass-produced one. These are realistic UK ranges to plan around:

AccessoryEverydayConsideredCouture / Handmade
Veil£25–£60£80–£180£200–£500+
Hair comb / hairpiece£15–£45£50–£120£150–£350
Flower crown£20–£50£55–£120£130–£300
Earrings£15–£40£50–£120£150–£800+
Necklace£20–£50£60–£150£180–£1,000+
Belt / sash£25–£55£70–£160£180–£450
Detachable sleeves / straps£40–£80£90–£200£220–£500
Detachable bow£35–£70£80–£180£200–£400
Detachable train£80–£150£180–£350£400–£900
Bolero / jacket£40–£90£100–£250£280–£600
Shoes£35–£80£100–£220£280–£800

At Marginelli, our handmade accessories sit in the considered to couture range — and we think they're worth understanding before you decide where your money goes.


Where to Spend and Where to Save

Worth investing in:

  • A veil or hairpiece you love — it's the most bridal thing you'll ever wear, and in nearly every aisle photograph. Our veils in soft Italian tulle and our handmade combs and crowns are designed to catch the light beautifully.
  • One transformative detachable piece — a train, sleeves, or a bow. This is where craftsmanship genuinely shows.
  • Earrings, if you'll re-wear them. They frame your face in every close-up.

Worth keeping modest:

  • The garter — seen for seconds, worn once.
  • Full matching jewellery sets — they often read as overdone. Choose one focal piece instead.
  • Anything you're buying only because a checklist told you to.



Rent or Buy?

Renting can make sense for very expensive, one-wear jewellery. But for the accessories that shape your silhouette — veils, sleeves, trains, belts — buying handmade is usually the better choice. These pieces are fitted, kept, and very often treasured (more than one of our brides has passed a veil to a daughter). A rented piece can never become an heirloom.


Hidden Costs Worth Planning For

Build a little room for these before you shop, so nothing surprises you:

  • Alterations — sewing a comb into your hair, adjusting a belt, fitting a bolero
  • Delivery — at Marginelli, UK mainland delivery is free on orders over £100, which often covers a full accessory order
  • A few practical extras — fashion tape, comfortable second shoes for dancing, a small emergency kit


Three Sample Budgets

The Minimalist — around £120 A delicate handmade hair comb, simple earrings, and comfortable shoes. Quietly elegant, with nothing wasted.

The Considered Bride — around £350 A beautiful Italian-tulle veil, a hairpiece, refined earrings, and one transformative detachable piece. This is the sweet spot for most of our brides.

The Statement Bride — £700+ A couture veil, a detachable train or sleeves, a hand-finished belt, and a bolero for cooler venues. Worth every penny when accessories are the heart of your look.


A Final Word

There's no single "correct" amount to spend — only the amount that's intentional. Anchor to roughly 10–15% of your dress budget, decide your number before you browse, and direct your money toward the pieces that are photographed, re-wearable, and genuinely transformative.

If you'd like help choosing, this is exactly what we do. You're warmly welcome to explore our handmade accessories collection and our wedding dresses — or, if you're in or near London, to visit our studio and see how the right pieces feel in person.

With love, The Bridal Team at Marginelli


Marginelli is a London design house specialising in handmade and bespoke bridal wear and accessories. Rated 4.9★ with over 1,200 reviews. Free UK mainland delivery on orders over £100. Explore the full collection at marginelli.com.