We chose the fiance visa route. Marriage in the UK - yes no family from the Philippines - but then had we got married in the Philippines my family would have been unlikely to be able to attend. One big advantage with getting the fiance visa was that Daisy could experience her new home before making the legal commitment to me. She had never travelled abroad before and although independent the distance from family and friends and from everything she was previously used to could have been too big a change. Thankfully the three months in London before we got married were fine and in 15 days time we will celebrate our first anniversary.
I know many people do it but I would have found it very very difficult to get married in the Philippines and then return to the UK without my wife and facing the uncertainties of the visa decision.
