Looking for Appication help and insight for a Marriage Visa

Hello,
After perusing this forum, I've decided the best way for me to get to live and work in the UK is via a Marriage Visa. My fiance is British and living there now while I've been working abroad and we had decided on this a while ago and everything is good, my questions are regarding working with this visa. Are you only able to work in the UK once the marriage is official and license is obtained and taken to the local visa office? Or are you able to work before while still planning? I understand there is a 6 month window in order to get married. I've spent hours looking at the Visa4UK official site and it's just not giving me the info I'm looking for.

If anyone has any insight I'd appreciate any links, comments, notes about it.
Thanks.

Joe

Hi im going through this as well hope this helps.

Guidance - Husbands, wives and partners (INF 4)

You will be allowed to stay in the UK for six months but without permission to work. When you are married or have registered a civil partnership, you can apply for a two-year extension to your visa and, if your application is granted, you will be allowed to work. Near the end of this time, you can apply to stay in the UK permanently. Before we can give you permission to stay in the UK permanently, you will need to pass the 'Life in the UK' test.

Thanks for the info, this is what's on the website so I'm familiar with it. But has anyone done this? Can give a bit of guidance on how long these things took? I can't afford to be not working for too long and if I'm at the whim of some government agency to "approve" an "application". I really don't like the sound of that. I plan on marrying my fiancée and making a life in the UK and I need to apply to do that first? I'd just like a bit of reassurance is all.

What office do you have to go to while in the UK? What paperwork do they need? So many questions.