Just because some ppl rush into marriage way too soon and end up rapidly divorcing doesn't mean that marriage is bad. Marriage is a HUGE committment, true, and a HUGE risk. That's why, if you're considering marriage, you wait, take your time, and make certain that you really want to spend the rest of your life with this woman, raise kids with her, etc.
It may seem a bit old-fashioned, but I wouldn't propose to a girl until after several years of dating, and having tried out living together. If my current LTR works out the way I'm hoping, I'd be looking at proposing after at least 3 years together, plus as much as a year or more engaged afterwards. The reason so many marriages fail these days is because ppl don't spend the amount of consideration time that such a big decision deserves.
As for having high standards for a wife, I call that a good idea. If you're going to have only one woman for the rest of your life, why not get the best you can? When it comes to ShortyBrown's comment, I think we can all agree that at least some luck is involved in finding "that girl", can't we?