Hi dear,
I'm unable to reply to your comment on my book. So here is my answer --
Friends have a way of teasing. Sometimes you got to take things in a sportive way. The way he still didn't pick the ring proves he respects his wife very much. And about his friends, you must've realized by now that their family is well cultured and they said it for fun purposes.
Also, at the end of the day, you're the person who makes decisions about your life. Who cares a hoot about what society says!
Read the book further and you'll realize too many things.