Some say, even if one’s wife is moichel and she says I don’t need or want anything, it is not done with a complete heart and one must still buy her a present for Yom Tov (Even Yisroel, Dinei Simchas Yom Tov, ois 5 and Chut Shoni, Yom Tov pg. 161). However, they bring in the name of R’ Chaim Kanievsky zt”l (Toras HaMoadim 529:10) that mechilah does in fact help. However, although mechilah helps, the husband still doesn’t fulfill the mitzvah. They cite proof that mechilah helps from the Chelkas Mechokek, and Beis Shmuel (Even HaEzer 64:1) who both say that a woman can be moichel on her chiyuv simcha during the week of sheva berachos. However, it could be that the week of sheva berachos is different, as the chiyuv of simcha then is only derabonon (Yemei Simcha, Mahadurah 5777, pg. 211).
