Photography by Amalia Osborne & Geoff Salisbury.
It was a simple evening of popcorn, bubbly and movies, but celebrating their combined hens’ do meant the world to Dancing With The Stars NZ dancer Loryn Reynolds and her sister Tyler.
Just a few years ago, personal turmoil and family estrangement made it hard for either of them to imagine getting their happy-ever-after, let alone celebrating it together.
“Being the maid of honour to Loryn and going through wedding planning with my best friend has been so special,” says Tyler.”
Loryn, who also competed on The Traitors NZ, adds, “It’s become part of who we are to be there for each other in these milestones. These moments strengthen our sisterly bond.”
Woman’s Day was there as the Loryn and Tyler threw a movie night ahead of Loryn’s wedding to Blair Smith and Tyler’s nuptials to Michael Cranney. Loryn, 29, previously revealed to us her fairytale engagement to Blair, 30, during sunset at Rome’s Colosseum. Months later, Michael, 39, proposed to Tyler, 33, in Bali.
“We were sitting on the ground with beers, surrounded by rice paddies and waterlilies, when he asked me,” says costume designer Tyler. “Easiest yes ever!”
When we last caught up with the sisters, Tyler revealed how injuries and an unhealthy relationship caused her to quit dancing and eventually tip the scales at 130kg. After joining a gym and overhauling her diet, she lost 30kg and gastric sleeve surgery later helped her reach 60kg. It was around then she started dating Michael, whom she first met on Tinder four years prior.
“It wasn’t a good point in either of our lives, so we lost contact, then randomly reconnected,” she says. “We’ve been inseparable ever since.”
In contrast to her ex, who taunted her about her weight and caused a rift in their family, Michael has been super-supportive. “With the sleeve, there are times I can’t stomach certain foods. He’s always checking in to make sure I’m OK,” says Tyler. “I feel content with him. I can focus on other stuff rather than worry what he’s thinking about me.”
Loryn couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Michael into the family. “It’s comforting knowing she’s with somebody who unconditionally loves her,” she says. “She’s finally happy.”
Meanwhile, the dancer shares how Blair has literally picked her off the floor during rough patches, like when COVID cancelled the 2020 and 2021 seasons of DWTS or when she came home mentally depleted from The Traitors. The sisters have proudly emerged from such struggles.
“We’ve found who we are and know exactly where we’re going. Which means we’re in a better place for marriage,” says Tyler. “We have partners who don’t want us to change.”
Movie nights have been a special weekly routine for Loryn, Tyler and their mum Julie since Tyler reconnected with her family. The joint hens’ party took place at their parents’ home, on the same patio where Julie married their dad Peter almost 40 years ago.
Loryn rocked a sparkly mini dress as the ladies played games like “Porn or Polish”. This involved deciding whether names like “Cream Dream” and “Lady Black Rose” were adult film stars, or shades of nail polish.
“Blair’s mum Carol winning Porn or Polish was the funniest part of the night,” laughs Tyler. Loryn and Tyler are now sorting final plans for Loryn’s wedding.
“I never envisioned getting married, so Tyler’s helped me visualise it,” says Loryn, adding Tyler also created her DWTS outfits. “I have so many ideas and Tyler makes them happen.”
Meanwhile, Loryn has turned to personal trainer Blair to help her bulk up for her big day. She explains, “I’ve always been lean, but I want to feel curvy and womanly on my wedding day.”
In contrast, Tyler’s hoping to shed pounds, having gained about 10kg in recent years. She’s working with a trainer ahead of her two events – a Las Vegas wedding, then a Kiwi celebration. Like many who undergo gastric surgery, she faces long-term struggles.
“You go from being quite overweight to quite small in a short period of time. There’s constant body dysmorphia,” she says, adding she’s grateful to Michael for bringing her back in touch with whānau.
“We’ve reconnected massively as a whole family over the past five years. Loryn and I doing all these things together has solidified that. If things work out, we’ll start families around the same time. It’s all worked out perfectly!”
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