Fiance&Marriage Visa Vs Immediate Marriage Visa

Hi All

I have posted a few posts with regards to my South African girlfriend who I wish to marry and bring back to the UK to live with me as husband and wife. She was here on a 2 year working holiday visa but was rejected twice from seeing me on a Visitors Visa. After 4 months without her I am sure that I want to commit myself to her for life but my question is what are the ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES of me going to South Africa to marry and applying for a Marriage Visa against applying for a fiancee visa and then marriage visa whilst in the UK?

My thoughts so far are:

1) Cost
- It is more expensive to apply for the 2 Visas
- Under a fiancee visa my partner will be unable to work and whilst this is not a problem for me it will inevitably reduce our income/savings

2) Time - I understand that it takes longer to approve a marriage visa then it does to approve a fiance visa and therefore I can be with her sooner under a fiancee visa as I only have 3 weeks holidy remaining for the year.

If anyone can correct me and/or expand on these points PLEASE do.

Many thanks

In my experience, the fiance and the spousal visa usually take the same time.

Victoria