In Western Civilization, the government has been in the "marriage business" since long before the Bronze Age (c.2500-1100 BCE).
Interestingly, ancient pagan Rome grappled with the same situation modern Western culture. Here's how events transpired for them:
5 century BC: Roman civilization is a strong patriarchy, fathers are liable for the actions of their wife and children, and have the primary authority over the family.
1 century BC: Roman civilization blossoms into the most powerful and advanced civilization in the world. Material wealth increases. They have running water, baths and import spices from thousands of miles away. The Romans enjoy the arts and philosophy; they know and appreciate democracy, commerce, science, human rights, animal rights, children rights and women become emancipated. It is at this period that no-fault divorce is enacted and quickly becomes popular by the end of the century. Homosexuality propagates.
1-2 century AD: The family unit falls into rapid decline. Many men refuse to marry and the government tries to revive marriage with a “bachelor tax” to compel them to marry but to no avail. Children are growing up without fathers. The wealth and power of women grows very fast while men become increasingly demotivated. Non-martial sex and homosexuality become widespread during this time with the latter (e.g. homosexuality) politically championed.
3-4 century AD: A moral and demographic collapse takes place, Roman population declines due to below-replacement birth-rate. Immigration is increased to try and compensate; however, it's immigration from non-loyal people groups who have no patriotism for the Roman Empire and often are former enemies. There is extreme economic, political and military instability as twenty-five successive emperors in half a century are crowned (many end up assassinated). The Empire is ungovernable and on the brink of civil war and crime and corruption increase. The bright spot is that a new Catholic Religion teaching a very different normative morality has been gaining power amidst the chaos.
5 century AD: The Empire is ruled by an elite of military men that use the Emperor as a puppet; due to massive debts and financial problems, the Empire cannot afford to hire foreign mercenaries to defend itself (Roman citizens have long ago been replaced by mercenaries in the army), and starts “selling” parts of the Empire in exchange for protection. Eventually, the mercenaries figure out that the “Emperor has no clothes”, and overrun and pillage the Empire.
After the Western Roman Empire "collapses," in the 5th century, the new Catholic religion provides the moral foundation needed for restoration. The pillaging barbarians are converted and the elevation of marriage to a holy union begins to restore family and society (a fact even the anti-Christian historian Edward Gibbons states clearly in his work). Christian marriage gained preeminence when theology began to influence legislation as well as actual practices amongst the general population which realized it's benefit for producing and raising children; promoting mutual fidelity; and uniting man and wife in a bond of love derived from God.
Previously, I've shared at CC historical research studies produced at Harvard, Yale, Cambridge, etc... (including one from the founder of the anthropology department at Harvard) which documented the benefit of absolute monogamy to every major culture in history that utilized it and chronicled the decline of every major culture that abandoned the practice. They are epic sweeping socio-anthropological historical studies that make for fascinating reading.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” -George Santayana
And I'm with you 100 percent on the government shouldn't be in the marriage business.