Spend a year going with a person before you make the marriage commitment.
Getting married shows that you are humble enough to admit that somebody else (your spouse) knows something that you might not... has a valid point of view even if it is different than yours.
Spending a year dating before committing helps you determine if your potential mate has this kind of humble thinking, as well.
Spending a year dating? Wow that's long! Anyways, I think one doesn't have to stay that long because genuinely, if he or she is bent on pretending just to get what they want, a year would seem like a month for them.
Where I come from, it's mandatory to at least court for six months but prior to this courtship, you may want to seek God's will. I've seen people rush headfirst into marriage (courtship and all) but still end up unhappy and unfulfilled simply because it was probably not want God wanted for them.
Much of what God wants for people is what they want for themselves. God adapts to people in loads of ways.
The 1-year idea is from Dr. James Dobson... and, it is simply a guide.
People need to realize that when they get married, it is not control thing at all. Rather, it's almost exactly the opposite. It's a blending of two people... their hopes, dreams, ideals, and children.
People should get together with the idea of living their own lives almost separately at the beginning, and start getting used to each other. People need to keep from controlling the other, but rather, respecting the other person's life, even if it seems goofy or wrong in areas. That's what the year of dating is for... to see if it is going to work.
One of the main things to do is to abstain from sexual intercourse during the trial period. Why? Because sex is easy. And being easy and fun, it takes the focus off other things that may be more important for good living relations.
After the year (or whatever time), and the marriage is effected, then the sex part will be way more gratifying and enjoyable. Why? Because the couple has found that they are the right person for each other. They move into it with a firm foundation in their relationship.
This won't stop all divorces, but it will make marriages stronger, and it will lessen divorce.