I'll admit, I'm a hopeless romantic...so marriage is all about love for me. I don't look at the prospect of marriage and think "Oh well, if it doesn't work out, I can always get a divorce". I am happy that divorce is there, because, as has been pointed out, many people go into marriage, not thinking everything through first. They don't think about where they'll be 5, 10, 15 years down the track. People do grow apart, but I am still romantic enough to hope that it doesn't happen to me and mine. That is, of course, assuming I will be legally allowed to marry at some point in the future.
Mutual goals do factor in, of course...and I think it's best that (even though it's totally unromantic), things such as children (how many/when/can you afford it/their early care/schooling etc.), careers (whether both will work/will that change with kids on the scene, and it is affordable/who should stay home if so, etc.), where you'll live (you'd be surprised at what an issue that can be), household duties (who does what/when...or should you just get a maid LOL), etc. should all be discussed and agreed/compromised on, before marriage.
I also think that living together before marriage is a good thing. I know some people will pull out that old tired argument "why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free", but I believe in "try before you buy". Even if two people are totally, madly in love, they may not be capable of physically living together, and sharing a household, when push comes to shove. Better to find that out beforethe rings are exchanged.
I think the divorce rates of today are just a sign of the times...whether it stays the way it is now, or gets better or worse, remains to be seen. Maybe if people started putting a little more thought into their relationships before tying the knot, divorce rates would drop.
