Bridesmaid Dress Refund: Legal Rights & Payment Disputes

Question
QUESTION: I am getting married in May, but due to friendship problems I made a change in my bridal party. The girl's dress was already paid for. I was going to buy the dress from her but she stopped communication with me. We are going to buy the new girl's dress this weekend but I was wondering if the "ex" bridesmaid had any legal rights to the money?  It was only $135, but money is money.

ANSWER: If you bought and paid for this ex bridesmaid dress before the problems started the bridesmaid has to return the dress to you because legally she has no entitlement to the money and she can't sell the dress if she's not going to be in your bridal party. If it comes down to it you can take her to small claims court and ask that the dress be returned to you so you don't have to come up with the money for a new one for the replacement bridesmaid and apply what you would have spent for a new dress on tailoring costs to get it fitted for her. I would file in small claims court that your bridesmaid refuses to return a dress you paid for after the reason for why she's no longer in your bridal party. Why should you rebuy a dress you paid for technically if she's not in the wedding party anymore the dress should be returned to you unworn.

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QUESTION: She paid for the dress.. and I was wondering if she could come after me for the money she spent on it, since she will not be wearing it.  She has the dress.

Answer
Why would she come after you for the money she spent on the dress when she paid for it? She can do whatever she wants with the dress she could sell it back to you or sell it to someone else. The only thing you can do now is to move forward with your final wedding plans since you only have from now until the mid part of April to get things in order in terms of making sure your replacement bridesmaid's dress is straight.