SMINKACHU

Nerves are a given. I get nervous going through immigration whatever country I go to. Just try to keep it to yourself and have all your docs within easy reach. Before I reached the counter, I had my passport and plane tickets out of my travel pouch. I dont think I was asked for anything other than those.

As I said, Brits are not likely to be placed under a microscope unless they appear to have been abusing the VWP in some way...of course, anyone arriving could make a hash of the admissions interview and wind up in secondary...

I travelled backwards and forwards on an esta while dating my now wife, I got married on my esta
I tried to visit every 6 weeks to 2 monthly
I stopped for 4 weeks sometimes, If I could work my shift patterns and vacation right
The only 'tie' I travelled with was my return ticket
Questions asked by CBP varied, what job do you do, where are you staying, do you like the USA, your girlfriend must be worth visiting, how long are you staying
Respond to the questions with truth and honesty
I was never taken into secondary, and was always wished a hearty welcome
It got to a point that I knew the security guy at the Virgin check in

SMINKACHU: I think chances are you're going to be fine. And if you are truthful with any evidence you can offer, and answer their questions correctly you'll still be fine. There are some cases where a person isn't fine, yes. I can tell you from our experience, my fiancé started coming to the US to see me many years ago, when we were a lot younger. His first visit he was asked a great deal of probing questions at length (and he probably also didn't bring much evidence that would have been convincing anyway). But for every question he had an answer. Since that day it never mattered if he said he was visiting his friend, girlfriend, or fiancé - nor did it matter if he stayed a week or 80 days, whether he was employed or in college either. They'd always ask if he intended to marry, and he said no. They'd ask how long his trip was for and what he was doing and that was it. The last time he visited, he flat out told them he would be marrying me once he had obtained our K1. The officer remembered him when he returned with the K1 and wished us luck.
Don't overthink it but don't be underprepared. Truthful and honest.
HFM181818: I don't think you want to give the impression that no matter what an individual says or does or brings to show a CBP that they won't be granted entry. What sort of evidence and honesty would be convincing enough for you? If couples had more confidence that they wouldn't be tossed out even when they are honest, they wouldn't be so terrified to begin with.

I have made multiple entries and never had anything asked beyond the usual 2 or 3 simple questions.
I remember one was coming into DC for a long weekend and was asked where I was going, I knew it was in Delaware but not the address, he joked that Delaware is not very big.
The last time I ended up in Secondary because in my pre VJ stupidity I had applied for a B2 and been refused. So sort of expected. Even then I was just asked a couple of questions and sent on my way.

Just be truthful. Visiting your wife for a week is not illegal. Lying to an official is. I have been visiting every 6 - 8 weeks since we got married in 2014 and never had a problem.

No
Not in itself an issue, lots of people marry in the US as a visitor.

99.9 etc % of people have no issues, the ones I have noticed who have got into trouble usually have a situation that deserved it.

Be honest. Say you are visiting your wife. I don't know how many times you visited prior to the wedding trip (was that your first time in the US? Or at least your first time in that city?) but they can see when you travelled there before. It looks more suspicious to say "friends and family" when you have only been there once before (and that was only last month). They will want to know how you met these "friends" or why these "family members" are suddenly so dear to you that you have to keep visiting them, having never visited them for the first 20 or 30 years of your life.
People meet online all the time. The average CBP officer must see dozens of such cases each day. Keep it simple. Tell the truth. That way you won't end up getting yourself all caught up in a story. They won't laugh at you. Chances are the CBP officer has dabbled in online dating himself at some point. She's your wife. Tell them that if they ask who you're visiting. They can tell who is trying to skirt around the question with vague answers like "friends and family". If and when your wife does file the I-130 (it's her that files, not you, by the way) then you want your case to be watertight with no blurred lines in the past. They make notes as to what you have said at the border as to the purpose of your entry.