The only official in Phuket that can sign the residence certificates is at Phuket Town. That's why the price there is 500 baht and you can get it back same day. For Blue Tree, you're paying an extra 500 baht because they have to drive the paperwork to Phuket Town, and that's also why you have to wait to get it the next day.
20,000 baht is the amount of cash a tourist can be required to show to enter Thailand. It's not relevant to a marriage visa at all.
To get the marriage visa from your embassy, you need to check what their requirements are. It will be a local equivalent to 400,000 baht in your local currency. Generally the only requirement is that you can show a bank statement (in your name only) with the amount of money. Some embassies MIGHT accept a joint bank account, but you would need to show double the required amount since only 50% of the money is yours. An IRA account would not qualify.