Officiating a wedding a serious responsibility, best left to religious officials, close friends and fictional wizards.
Sir Ian McKellen, best known for playing Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, was offered $1.5 million to officiate Sean Parker's wedding as the wizard, The Daily Mail reports. Parker, a billionaire who founded Napster and was Facebook's first president, first made the offer three years ago.
"I was offered $1.5 million dollars to marry a very famous couple in California, which I would perhaps have considered doing, but I had to go dressed as Gandalf," McKellen told The Daily Mail. "So I said, ‘I am sorry, Gandalf doesn’t do weddings.'"
Parker's fantasy-themed wedding to singer Alexandra Lenas, which caused some expensive damage to the redwood forest in which it was held, cost approximately $1.5 million dollars. Guests at the time included Sting, Sean Lennon and Emma Watson.
IMAGE: ERIC PIERMONT/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Each guest was custom-fitted in a Tolkienized Lord of the Rings costumes, because nothing says eternal love like cosplay.
Who doesn't see hairy ears and subsequently think of marriage?
McKellen, an accomplished theater actor is currently starring in 'No Man's Land' in London. He made the disclosure to The Daily Mail as part of a longer conversation about costumes.
"I don’t go dressing up,” McKellen told The Daily Mail. “Except in plays and things at places like this."
Ian McKellen's net worth is estimated to be in the tens of millions — but still, an extra $1.5 million wouldn't have hurt.
Sean Parker, wherever you are — next time you need a Gandalf, there are millions of people out there who are ready to dress in costume (raises hand) and will gladly accept your monetary offer.
Anu Multani and her parents had been looking for a suitable boy for several years, looking up several matchmaking websites without success. In January, Multani, a rifle shooter and a model, unexpectedly encountered someone she liked online.
She already knew 32-year-old Imran Garana, but connecting on the app and the knowledge that the other person was also looking for a partner, gave them both the confidence to talk about taking their relationship to the next level. Garana lived near Multani's hometown Surat, in the western Indian state of Gujarat, and seemed to fit the bill. They talked and met, and things fell into place. By May, they were married.
Garana and Multani, both of whom live with polio, had met on Inclov, a new Indian matchmaking app for people with disabilities and health disorders. It is also one of the few dating apps for people with disabilities in the world; another well-known example is the online community Dating4Disabled.
"While I had tried several matrimonial websites, I couldn't find the right person," Multani, 30, told Mashable. "I was always hesitant, wondering what would they say and how would they react, once they found out about my polio in our first meeting. With Inclov, I wasn't shy of meeting anyone. I could talk to them easily. I knew all the information beforehand — what their handicap was and how they dealt with it."
Inclov, which focuses on but is not restricted to people with disabilities and health disorders, was launched in early 2016 after a successful crowdfunding campaign. Six months later, it has 3,600 users in 55 Indian cities. Inclov has made over 1,000 matches till date, starting with Multani and Garana.
"In India, people with disabilities can get secluded in their own space," Shankar Srinivasan, co-founder of Inclov, said. "A majority don't have a social life, or get a chance to meet to interact with a lot of people. Most of the places, including bars, restaurants and malls, aren't accessible. Through Inclov, we hope to give them a chance to meet others."
IMAGE: MASHABLE
While some of India's traditional matrimonial websites offer matchmaking for users with disabilities, Inclov has an emphasis on including details of each user's disability to ensure transparency from the beginning.
For Multani, Inclov's transparency was especially useful. Many of the users were people she had met during her tours as a rifle shooter.
"It was easy to see and check other profiles and chat," Multani says. "Even people without disabilities can use the app, if they think that they can sympathise with and care for those with disabilities," Multani says.
Once a user downloads the app, they are asked to verify their identity. To ensure transparency, all users have to share details about their disability ("physical, mental, learning") or health disorder, the medical assistance they require, any cure, and their level of independence. They must also provide their age, hobbies and profession.
Srinivasan explains that these categories were chosen after a survey of 300 people with disabilities across India. "Users have to disclose their disability at some point," Srinivasan says. "It's better that they are disclosed upfront rather than gradually revealed later."
Once they've registered, Incov users can search for others using these filters. For safety, even after a user accepts a friend request, the app doesn't display phone numbers or email IDs. It is up to the users to take the conversation forward.
Inclov was founded as an offline matchmaking agency by 24-year-old Srinivasan and 23-year-old Kalyani Khona in 2014. The two wanted to work for people with disabilities, and realised that there was little being done outside employment, especially in the area of companionship.
Within seven months, the demand was so high, it wasn't possible to do physical matching anymore.
"There are 1.2 billion disabled people in the world," Srinivasan says. "We needed to move to technology to create a bigger impact."
Inclov's Srinivasan with Anu Multani and Imran Garana, on the day of their marriage.
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To ensure that the app was fully accessible before the launch, Inclov was tested with the help of 50 people with different disabilities — including visual, hearing and speech disabilities, colour blindness, and cerebral palsy — as well as medical experts.
The app has features such as a font magnifier and different colour schemes for people with colour blindness. A talkback service reads out every feature and image on the app. Users who are unable to swipe can type to switch screens, and use a bottom path with icons, home notifications and filters. Inclov also plans to integrate video calling for sign language and voice notes in the future.
Inclov is trying to create a community of users by partnering with nonprofits working in the field of disability. The startup has also been organising meet-ups in different cities, by inviting all users and their families and friends to go out and meet different people. Many of these are held in open and accessible places, such as beaches and gardens.
"It becomes socially less awkward," Srinivasan says. "That way they have an option to feel comfortable.
"There are also people who aren't looking for marriage, but just companionship," Srinivasan adds. "This becomes a platform for them to connect to new people, have friends to talk to and text."
India has 21 million people with some kind of disability, equivalent to 2.1 percent of its total population. Many, especially women, face social, cultural and physical barriers in going out and socialising with other people.
Multani speaks of how she had to fight many battles and prejudices to get to where she is."Men, even if disabled, can get a match, but women face a lot of difficulties," Multani says. "They face a double handicap. Many find it difficult to get married and educated or are tortured by their families because they can't work. Often, their own family doesn't support them."
Ninety percent of Inclov's users are male, and only 10 percent are women. It's a challenge that Inclov has been trying to overcome through its safety features. To ensure that its users have a safe experience, Inclov also takes security steps, such as mobile and email verification, displaying only the first name, an in-chat feature and not allowing screenshots on the app.
"It's been overwhelming with so many people saying thank you for understanding the need," Srinivasan says. "Inclov gives them hope that love is also possible for them."
LONDON — Holding my phone high in the air, I tilt my head to one side and channel my best Kylie Jenner pout. Naturally, it'd be remiss not to add a filter, so I tap and hold before choosing one.
With the help of the purple crown filter, I look like a female, pouty version of Julius Caesar. It's the exact look I was going for, so I post it to my Snapchat Story and return to unfiltered reality.
Minutes later my finger hovers over those three little dots. I tell myself it's too soon to check, but the compulsion gets the better of me. I feel a fluttery sensation within as I tap that telltale icon shaped like an eye.
My Snapchat Story
IMAGE: RACHEL THOMPSON / MASHABLE
Story views
IMAGE: DUSTIN DRANKOSKI / MASHABLE
And, there is is: a notification to tell me that my crush has already viewed my Snap Story. The sight of these two little words fills me with joy. "Omg, does he like me?" I ask myself.
Those three little dots can be found on Snapchat's Stories tab. Once you've posted a photo or video to your Story, you can tap on the three dots, and then an eye-shaped icon, to find out who's viewed your Story, and how many times they've watched it.
This notification might not sound like much, but, to me — and anyone else with a crush — it's the modern day version of a love note; a little nudge that says 'I like you'; the Facebook poke of 2016.
IMAGE: DUSTIN DRANKOSKI/ MASHABLE
Relationship expert Laurel House says that Snapchat is an ideal platform for dating, and its notifications can provide insights unlike any other social network.
Indeed, a 2015 study of adult social media users examined participants' motives for using certain platforms. The findings revealed that Snapchat is used more for finding new "love interests" and for flirting, while Facebook is used for keeping in touch with friends.
"Not sure if someone in real life notices you? You might not be aware of their in-person side glances and sly looks. But on Snapchat, there's no hiding. Regardless of whether or not someone clicks 'like,' you know that they have looked," House continued. "More than merely looking at your profile, Snapchat lets you see how many photos and how many times that person viewed you, letting you see just how much others like what they see," House told Mashable.
Somebody's watching me
"Snapchat happy" lifestyle blogger Luisa-Christie Walton-Stoev also uses the Story notifications to gauge whether or not someone ~likes~ her.
"There was a boy I liked who I added on Snapchat earlier this year. He viewed my story a lot; never posting Stories himself, though," Walton-Stoev told Mashable.
"But, it transpired after a few dates and longer and longer between texts that we were very different, with different hobbies, and living in different cities — perhaps my Snapchat Story highlighted that more for him," Walton-Stoev continued.
However, Walton-Stoev also found herself becoming obsessed with the feature, constantly checking to see if people had viewed her Snapchat Story — particularly those she subconsciously wanted to view it.
Snapchat's Story has also played a role in marketing manager Jane Cooper's love life.
"I have a friend who always messages me when he knows I've seen his Snap Story saying 'that was for you,'" Cooper told Mashable.
"We went on a date and, for me, it didn't really click in a romantic way but I said we should be friends," Cooper continued.
Snapchat doesn't just highlight the interest of prospective partners, however. It can also raise questions about your ex's current feelings for you, as comedian Jay Malsky discovered.
"I have an ex who is ALWAYS the first person to view my story or open a Snapchat. And, I can't help but notice and then go down this rabbit hole of questions," Malsky toldMashable.
Malsky's thoughts range from: "Is he obsessed with me still?" to "Why is he on snapchat all day? and then "Could we still have a future together?"
For PR executive Sharon Kaslassi, however, a simple view of a Snapchat Story isn't enough. She gets a thrill when her crush replays her Snap Story.
While Snapchat doesn't allow you to replay Snaps sent to you directly, it does allow users to replay Snapchat Stories. There's a catch though: when your Story gets replayed, you can see who's re-watching, and how many times.
"It doesn't happen all that often since they know that you know that they replayed it. So, it probably hinders them from doing so — I know it hinders me from doing so anyway," Kaslassi told Mashable.
"I've definitely wondered what the Story view notification means. But, it's hard to know if your crush just happened to view your story, or if they purposely clicked on your story to view it," says Kaslassi.
IMAGE: THOMAS TRUTSCHEL/PHOTOTHEK VIA GETTY IMAGES
PR executive Mike Casais thinks that watching Snapchat Stories is more intimate than a simple "like" on Facebook.
"It does give you some satisfaction knowing your love interest's watched your story. In the same way that you'd probably get some sort of satisfaction from having them 'like' your new pic on Facebook," Casais told Mashable.
"The only difference being: liking an image on Facebook is public, which some people would choose not to do. Watching your Snapchat story feels slightly more intimate," says Casais.
Snapchat star and radio presenter Mark Kaye says that Snapchat Stories make it easy to know exactly where your crush is, what your crush is doing, and who they're with. But — Kaye adds — that doesn't necessarily make it easy to gauge reciprocity.
"The better indicator of how interested your crush may be is how quickly they open your Snaps. When you send them a snap do they open it right away? Do they snap you right back or do they wait a really long time?" Kaye told Mashable.
Whether you're too shy to explicitly express your interest in someone, or you're just not sure if they feel the same way, Snapchat can be a good way to make it clear that you're interested in their Story without giving away too much. "The sooner that solid arrow turns hollow the more likely it is that your crush feels the same about you," Kaye continued.
A Story view or replay gives away just enough to leave someone wondering what it means without declaring your hand. But, remember: it's not necessarily a dead-cert that they're interested. Interpret with caution, and keep your eyes peeled for further signs of interest before you act.
Most apps designed for couples, especially long distance couples, don't offer anything too special.
Snapchat is already great for sending a quick picture; you're probably already texting or using Whatsapp if you're in different countries; Skype and FaceTime are standbys.
But when long-distance relationships (LDRs) need work, we're willing to try anything new. I would know.
My boyfriend and I are in an LDR. We were looking for an app with features our regular social media apps don't offer: a good calendar organizer/syncing ability and some fun activities or prompts.
We put five leading couple's apps to the test.
It seems these types of apps fall into three categories: apps for encouraging sex (which we did not include in our review), apps for productivity (like syncing calendars and making "honey-do" lists), and apps to encourage communication (questions, games, etc.).
tl;dr: Not one app completely delivered our wish list. Instead we need a frankenapp, a special combination of the best offerings into a couple's app unique to us.
Avocado used to be one of the highest rated apps amongst couples, but if you see the recent reviews, users are not happy. The app has not been updated since July of last year, most likely the cause of the issues. Current users cite crashes and unreliable syncing. I couldn't even get past the authorization page. I reached out to Avocado support but did not receive a response.
2. Between, free, iOS and Android (ability to upgrade to Between Plus)
IMAGE: BETWEEN
IMAGE: BETWEEN
Between was almost our favorite. While the app offers picture sharing and a chat section we wouldn't use, its calendar was the easiest out of all of the apps...with some flaws: It doesn't sync with Google Calendar or iCal.
I used this app in a previous LDR (sorry, babe) and liked it. Couple is popular for its "Thumbkiss" feature; users tap the screen at the same time and can "feel" one another by a slight vibration through the phone. It may sound corny but especially in a LDR is very sweet. Mike said it was his favorite feature, the mush.
However, video chat only works if both partners are using iPhone, so this feature wasn't feasible for iOS and Android couples. While the app does not have a functional calendar, it does have a "List" feature for logging important dates. Within chat we could send video, audio and little reminders like "Thinking of you." But besides Thumbkiss, none of these features were unique enough to crown Couple the winner.
Twyxt's calendar was the runner-up, but still didn't sync with Google Calendar or iCal so it didn't beat Between. This also had a "List" ability, a "Kiss" feature (similar to Couple's "Thumbkiss") and messaging system.
The intent seems to keep a record of your entire relationship, not just stay organized. Through the "Keepsake" section, users can keep all their photos, videos and even daily agenda in one place. Sweet idea, but not most couples need or have the time to document absolutely everything.
Also, the noises this app makes are awful. As someone who needs their phone on ring most of the time, this was a shrill-beeping-noise-buzzkill. You can see I had a fun time with the "spank" emoji, however.
The best way to describe Couplete was "cute," because that's all it was. The app has a text and picture messaging system, a calendar, and all of our activity is kept on the main timeline. It also has a "Loveletter" option, where you can virtually send a note to your partner with an included "Mood." The "Wishbox" was strange: We could upload links to gifts we wanted, but it seems like something a text or an Amazon wishlist could handle.
In conclusion
There was no clear winner. We didn't continue using any of the apps after this experiment.
Each offered a variation of messaging platforms, photo sharing or video calls. None of the calendars were helpful, and none encouraged intimacy or activities for couples. They all just seemed like dressed up messenger apps.
We weren't able to find the app that combines all three categories of couple apps as previously described, nor did we find a service we couldn't accomplish with Snapchat, Skype or texting.
But if we could use the calendar from Between, the interface of Couple and the cuteness of Couplete, we would have our perfect LDR frankenapp.
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