Bridesmaid gifts for cancelled wedding?

If they aren't attending (and thus not standing up as your bridesmaids) then they don't get gifts. Only your witnesses do. That is how elopements are done.


However a bridesmaid doesn't have any obligation toward duties except to purchase a dress of your choosing and stand by your side at the ceremony (not at an elopement). Pre-wedding parties are optional based on their budget and availability.

You don’t have to, but I bet they’d appreciate a nice card. If they already bought their dresses, offering to reimburse them for their dresses would also be a nice gesture.

You need not give them gifts for acting as bridesmaids. An apology and a gift might be nice, though, if you asked them to save that date for months, only to then say, big wedding is off and you are no longer needed or wanted,and may not even come as a guest.

I agree with Nicole. If your bridesmaids have already purchased their dresses, then a nice card & offering to reimburse them would be a good gesture. If they haven’t a nice card would still be a good idea.

Did they already buy their dresses? If so I personally would still give a gift. If not maybe a thank you card or something

I don't see any issue with not getting gifts for those not attending...

View Quoted Comment Thanks everyone for the advice! No, no one bought their dresses. We canceled in March at the beginning of the pandemic so we could give everyone as much warning as absolutely possible. I like the idea of a nice card. I might send them all flowers to let them know that I definitely want them to Skype in!

View Quoted Comment That's a good idea!

View Quoted Comment Perfect!!! You sound like an excellent communicator. I know these people are important to you. I don’t think a gift is necessary except that they still feel loved and cherished by you. The flowers sound like a sweet way to communicate it and the skype/facetime would be nice touch of inclusion!

If they haven’t spent any money, then no absolutely not!

View Quoted Comment I love this idea! The only one I would get a big thank gift would be the one that was there! I think flowers for the others would be great!