If you enter on a non-O visa, the first extension must be based on the same reason that you got the visa for.
You say "waiting for my retirement visa to run out" so if you actually mean that, the 90 day non-O visa based on retirement, then no, you cannot switch to marriage because the extension must be based on retirement too.
But if you actually mean that you're waiting for your 1-year extension based on retirement (an extension is not a visa), then yes, you can apply for your new extension based on a different reason as long as you meet the requirements.
If you put that on your visa application, most embassies will either reject it, or not process the application until you're 3 months away from traveling.
Visas are meant for traveling to a country. The way it's meant to be done is by getting the visa you want from a Thai embassy before traveling to Thailand. The system is designed around doing it this way and it's the simplest method.