Talked it over with a few who've done both marriage and retirement visas, I decided to stay with the retirement visa - and I'll do the pics the way they want them.
OK- wotta flippin nuisance - I thought that the money requirement started at showing ฿800,000 for 90 days prior to applying but after 90 days it drops to ฿400,000 - did I misunderstand that? Will I need to show ฿800,000 ?