Won't get into specifics, but I'm about 20:1 net worth vs. debt. I could pay off the pickup and the house, but having that balance invested is making me a lot more than I'm paying in interest. Student loans got paid off 3 years early while I was an expat in Australia. Car is paid for. Fiancé is better off than I am (shoes aren't *quite* as expensive as guns)...we'll be right around that same 20:1 combined. We're paying for the wedding ourselves.
If the wedding date wasn't 10/22, my brother and 3 best friends would be getting longslide 1911's.
A) yes, it wasn't any of my business
B) thank you for the answer in generics. I should have been more specific in my question by stating "you don't have to answer at all, but generic statements will work"
C) this was more of an exercise in thought and reflection - (Perhaps not only for OP, but for other considering similar things)
If one can easily afford personalized 10/22 rifles for groomsmen (be it 2 or 20), far be it from me to tell someone how to spend their money.
Additionally, as a man now in is late 30s, married for a while, AND debt free (save mortgage) - people come to this board all the time for advice on ABC and end up with advice on XYZ. I don't know OP from Adam, but I was hoping to slide in a little friendly financial advice as he was bouncing around INGO socializing with all the rest of us.
I STILL council on the side of "retire some debt with that money" as that investment will pay off better in the long run. But, that's just my opinion. OP seems sorted out.
Now if he were a guy struggling to put a tank of gasoline in his vehicle and on a few forms of social benefits - then he'd be in desperate need of real and honest financial counseling from a bona fide fiduciary - - and I'd still tell him that buying personalized 10/22 rifles for his groomsmen would be an absolutely foolish thing to do.