Marrying in the U.S then moving to the U.K...A Few Questions

Okay, after navigating through the minefield of visas for the past few months I thought I had it all clear but then the inevitable rusty spanner got thrown in the works.
Here's the problem (there's probably a simple solution im not seeing and if so I apologise!):

I'm a uk citizen living in the U.K, my girlfriend is a U.S citizen living in the states. We were going to apply for a fiance visa for her to come over to the U.K to marry me, and to live here afterwards on a spousal visa. However....
She now wants to get married in the U.S (so her family can be there). BUT after the ceremony she wants to come to the U.K.
After scratching my little confused head I have a few questions...
I assume that I would have to apply for a U.S fiance visa for myself, go over and get married then return to the U.K. Would that mean that i would have to come back to the U.K then apply for a spousal visa for her? Would the U.S authorities have a problem with my going over there on a fiance visa for a brief period, getting married and then coming back to the U.K straight away (by myself)? (It sounds like a hit and run )

As you can tell, im a little confused  I hope someone can help, it would be much appreciated

Regards
Jason

no worries Jason, you aren't the first! Loads of people on this board will tell you how it's done 

Hi Jason,

You won't need a fiance visa to marry her in the US. You would only need a visa if you intended on settling in the US but since you are returning to the UK after your marriage you should be fine. You can come over on a visa waiver.

Yes that is true---it is very simple actually...

You go to the US ---no visa needed-- you get married.
After the wedding your fiancee (who will obviously be your wife at this point :-) ) applies for a spousal visa from the US.
Many on this board of done exactly that.

Helena

Thank you so much everyone for your help, I really appreciate it.
It seems to be a lot easier than I expected, but its led me to a couple more questions (I feel like a toddler when they're always asking "why?"  )

1) I go to the states on visa waiver, would it be a good idea to tell U.S immigration when I land that i've come to get married or just to tell them ive come for a week at disneyland (or words to that effect).

2) Can my fiance'/girlfriend apply for a marriage license and arange the ceremony before I arrive, or would I have to be there (to provide ID etc), shake my booty etc

I think that's it for now, but thanks for the previous replies - they unfurrowed my brow somewhat 

This is how we did it. I am the USC and was already "living" in the UK with my soon to be husband. (Here on my regular passport) I applied online for a visa appointment in NYC (my home state is Maine)after we  had contacted my local town clerk to find out what needed to be shown to obtain a marriage license, how long it would take to get one (in Maine it is issued that same day) and how long it would take to get the marriage certificate back, because that was needed for the visa interview.

We flew to the US...did not say we were marrying, he was here to visit me and my family (and had with him copies of mortgage, bank statements, a letter from his employer stating his full-time position etc to show he had sufficient ties to come back to the UK) Because he is a Hungarian citizen with ILR here in the UK (been here 5 years) he had already had a multiple entry US visa issued anyway when we starting flying back and forth.

So, next morning went to get the license...got married soon after...picked up the certificate the next day and headed to NY with all the documents I needed (plus application I had filled out online and printed off etc) and had my interview the next day and was issued the visa that day.

As far as I remember, it took about 2 weeks from the time I applied online to be issued my appointment. Go to the British Embassy in NY website and it is easy to figure out the spousal visa application process.

(We are now heading back to the US...will take us about 1 year to get his visa...it is MUCH easier coming this way!)

Good luck, Vicki

Here's a link to my experience:

http://www.freewebs.com/richard_and_lola/ukspousalvisainfo.htm

1) I go to the states on visa waiver, would it be a good idea to tell U.S immigration when I land that I've come to get married or just to tell them Ive come for a week at Disneyland (or words to that effect).

Never lie to immigration.  Just be sure to have with you letters and documents stating that you have a job, home and life to go back to in the UK so they will believe you when you say your not staying.

2) Can my fiance'/girlfriend apply for a marriage license and arange the ceremony before I arrive, or would I have to be there (to provide ID etc), shake my booty etc

That's depends on the county where the marriage will take place.  The county where I got married in Michigan only required a copy of the soon to be spouses id.  But some require that both parties are present.  Your fiance will need to check on that.  Luckily, depending on where you're getting married, you can get the license the same day or within a week of appling.