Man Refuses to Buy Wedding Gift for Couple Who Eloped

The etiquette around what type of gift is appropriate for a wedding varies from culture to culture. But if there is NO wedding, is there still a gift? One man took to Reddit to complain about the expectation to spend money on a wedding gift after his cousin eloped.

My (25M) cousin (28F) recently decided to elope. She and her husband (31M) announced that they had got married over the holidays and told their respective parents over a family meal.

As background, I'm not particularly close to my cousin. We saw many of each other when we were kids, but not so much. I get on well enough with her at family events, but I don't see or talk to her outside of this— the same goes for the rest of my cousins.

After hearing the news about the marriage, both parents were initially disappointed that they didn't get to attend a wedding.  

However, my uncle and aunt, in particular, went straight into celebration mode, inviting all the family to their house for a Sunday afternoon garden party.  to celebrate the marriage (ignoring that the bride and groom didn't want any such thing).

So does a garden party count as a wedding as far as gifts go?

The 'party' is in 2 weeks, and while I don't want to go at all (especially as I play D&D with friends on Sundays), Mom and Dad just assumed I was going and RSVP'd for me. 

Fair enough; I'll go for an hour, give nice pleasantries, congratulate the couple, etc., and then leave in time to get to my friend's house for D&D).

This is where the AH bit comes in.

My parents want me to contribute $200 towards the gift for the couple which was organized by my other cousins (her brothers) and my uncle and aunt (her parents). 

They want to buy the couple a $3000 dining table.  

My uncle and aunt will pay for half of it while my parents will pay $200 between them (Mom has been a SAHM all her life and has no money of her own).

The OP doesn’t think he should have to contribute to a joint gift, but that will make everyone else have to pay more.

I said no, and my parents were furious. They said I was selfish, tight, mean, and forcing everyone else to pay more. 

But $200 is a lot of money, especially for someone I'm not even close to, and especially as there's not even a wedding because they eloped. I don't think the 'Garden Party' counts as a wedding.

So, AITA for refusing to contribute towards a gift?

What do you think?