We had a bad guest - what to do now?

Hard decision, but I'd just send a simple thank you and let it go at that. I'm so sorry that happened, how awful and shame on that woman.

I would keep it, send a very short "thanks for the gift" thank you card and never speak to the person again. Since it was MIL's friend who she has since cut ties with, it doesn't seem like you would have any future interactions with her anyway.

Personally, I would send it back. I wouldn't want anything from a person like that. If you do keep the gift, a simple thank you note will do.

I agree with Samantha. I personally would return it, though I don't see anything wrong with keeping it and sending a very short thank you note.

I’d keep it. The thank you is completely up to you. Either a very short and to the point thank you, or nothing at all sounds perfectly acceptable to me.

I would just keep it and sent a thank you card

Cut ties with the bad guest. Keep the gift and send a thank you but don't continue any other contact with them.

I would keep the gift and probably wouldn't even send her a thank you note since she gave a half apology and doesn't see anything wrong with her behavior. You could always regift it or donate it.

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This is what I would do!

I would not send a thank-you note whatever you decide to do. Sending a thank-you note might imply you've moved on from her bad behavior.

If it's a physical gift I would send it back. I would not want the memory of her behavior to come back every time I saw or used the gift. If it were a check, idk. I might cash it.

I'd keep the gift and send a thank you note for it, but I'd keep the note very simple I probably wouldn't thank them for attending the wedding as part of the note the way I would with other people.

Depends on the gift. If it is something you have to look at often like a toaster and/or it makes you remember how she acted every time you see it I would return it to the store it was bought at and exchange it for something else. If it is something you rarely will look at and/or you can look at it without cringing keep it. But you should not return it to her as that might bring more drama back to you.
I have a few birthday and Christmas gifts from ex friends that I am able to separate the item and the person.

I would re-gift or donate her gift to someone who may need it. I would NOT send a thank you card. Her physical gift does not make up for her behavior. You have nothing to thank her for.

If you like the gift, keep it and send a very short, blunt "thank you for the gift" thank you note. If you don't like it, I'd consider sending it back, re-gifting, or donating.

If it is a gift you like or need, then I'd keep it. Unless it is something you will use everyday and will just make you mad every time you see it, in which case then regift it. And just write a short thank you for the gift note and be done with this drama of a person.

I would keep it like other PP have mentioned, send a quick thank you note, and let the relationship with them just die away. That was beyond rude of her and unacceptable and you don't need that in your life.

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It was a gift card to one of the stores we were registered for, so there would be no physical reminder of her in our home.

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Yeah I'd keep it then. Still wouldn't send a thank-you note.

If it’ll be a constant reminder of her awful behavior and you don’t need it, I’d get rid of it. However, I don’t think you owe her anything. She didn’t act respectful towards you at the most important day of your life, so I think trying to return it to her would be almost worse cuz you’d have to deal with her (and hear a list of excuses) all over again.

Send it back, with a note to her that considering her bad behavior at the wedding, you have realised you want nothing to do with her in the future, and no gifts from her.