Actually the opposite--the CR1/IR1 is far simpler, cheaper, and generally faster than the K-1. The K-1 will cost you many hundreds of dollars more (possibly thousands with pending fee increases), not to mention additional paperwork filings, etc. and your marriage will be in a sort of grey zone until the US gov't is confident it's going to last (you have to go to interviews proving it's a legit marriage once back in the USA, file a bunch more documents, pay hundreds in fees for each one, etc.) versus the CR1/IR1 which is simpler, faster, easier, requires less documentation, and upon entry to the USA your foreign bride has all the benefits an American spouse has (except voting). Plus it's the general consensus of the forum that CR1 is superior, as long as you are ready to commit to marriage.
I was in the same boat as you this time last year (even asked my Filipina gf who I got to know very well during covid-19 lockdowns if she would do the online marriage before our first physical meeting but she was reluctant). We treated the online Utah ceremony as a civil union, applied for the visa, and then later travelled there for the romantic proposal and planning of a ceremony for her friends and family to enjoy. Then an additional trip back for the ceremony. If you do it this way, then the 2 year waiting period is slightly more manageable because you have mini-goalposts spread out during the process instead of just years helplessly waiting for a bureaucrat to process your file.
Note that you have to be together DURING OR AFTER the Utah wedding BEFORE you can file for a US spousal visa, so if you don't complete the Utah wedding while you are both together on this trip, you will need to visit her again before you can start the long US visa application process (you will need passport stamps to show physical presence together).
By the way if you do the Utah wedding option, I HIGHLY recommend Rev Chris at Universal Heart Ministry. I wasn't expecting an emotional event, just checking boxes for a bureaucratic form, but he made the event extra special and followed up with a very nice card for something absurd like $50. Just remember at some point you have to register your marriage with Philippine authorities (it's been a year and we still haven't started) and otherwise just follow the guides here.
Fully remote is fine, you just have to be physically together as man and wife once, so visit either DURING or AFTER the Utah ceremony.
Finally, ignore the occasional pessimism on the forum (people accusing you of fraud, people defending the US government's ridiculous immigration system, etc.); it's actually a superb resource. Best of luck to you!