The 2 Years Marriage of Shirley Tan And Allan Moo - Love Story

Q: How did the two of you meet?

Allan: We were introduced to each other by a mutual friend, who asked me if I could take her to church. So I gave her a call, and we scheduled a day to meet up after her work and attend a cell group session together. But I totally forgot about our appointment on the day itself! She ended up waiting around for 20 minutes. To make things worse, I was a bit presumptuous and asked her to give my friends a ride home, as they did not have cars.

Despite that somewhat disastrous first meeting, we gradually became close friends. I always took her to church and we even hung out after cell group meetings. It was more or less during that period that we started dating.

Shirley: At first, I thought he was really strange because he wanted me to attend cell group, fellowship and mass; that’s like committing four days a week to just church! But I wasn’t too bothered and went along with it. Over time, my impression of him improved and we developed a very comfortable relationship. After dating for a while, we got married in January 2013 in a wedding venue in Singapore.

Q: What do you love most about each other?

Shirley: As a couple, we communicate really well and he understands my lingo. We have great chemistry and he’s very intuitive towards my needs, too. For example, he can tell when I’m stressed, and will pack back my favourite comfort food without me having to say anything. I also love that he is honest, hardworking, earnest and diligent. I feel safe when I’m with him.

Allan: I believe that a couple should start off as best friends first, and be able to speak to each other about anything. So I’m really happy that we have that foundation. I also love her quirky personality and ‘crazy’ side; she is always making me laugh and cheers me up when I’m down.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you face as a married couple?

Shirley: He is extremely busy with work, so we don’t get to talk as much as I would like to. We tend to communicate on the go, rather than leisurely chilling and catching up with each other. Furthermore, he’s constantly travelling and is always on his phone texting, e-mailing, and so on.               

Allan: Besides work, I also have church commitments and we have a kid to look after, so it’s hard to find time for just the two of us. To counter that, I try my best to plan my schedule in such a way that I can come home more often and spend time with her.

Q: In what ways are you similar?

Shirley: We are both very easygoing and laidback, especially when it comes to practical affairs, like going house-hunting, and other smaller details. In fact, we initially didn’t even want to hold a wedding ceremony! We just wanted to get out of town and grab a wedding certificate.

Allan: We have a similar worldview, and share the same mindset when it comes to marriage as well. We both believe that a strong foundation establishes a successful relationship, that it is most important to have a deep-rooted bond before anything else. We also have a similar sense of humour.

Q: Can you share any little-known facts about married life that you feel all couples should be prepared for?

Shirley: Be prepared to delve into finances planning and domestic affairs. The small things like taking out the trash and washing the dishes will start to really matter. You will have to dedicate a lot of love and patience to the relationship, and learn not to nitpick.

Allan: First of all, don’t expect it to be smooth sailing. As a married couple, you will be spending a lot of time together, so there are bound to be disagreements. Personally, I have realised that it’s not important to always be right. If you’re in the wrong, just admit it and learn from it. Otherwise, it will just result in silly quarrels that put a strain on your relationship.

Q: Any New Year resolutions for 2015, as a couple? 

Shirley: I hope that we will be able to spend more quality time together. I feel that we have been neglecting our health due to work, so it would be nice to establish a healthy routine, such as going to the gym together and taking part in marathons.

Allan: I would like to learn to be more romantic. I’m quite a ‘wooden’ person, so it tends to show through my actions as well. For instance, I once got a television set for Shirley as a birthday gift, and she really freaked out! I thought it was a nice gesture, but it turned out she was hoping for something more romantic, rather than just a regular household item. Hence, I realised I need to learn to see things from her perspective, too.

Q: In your opinion, what’s the most important component of a lasting marriage?

Shirley: First and foremost, it would be patience – followed by grace and lastly, love. Patience is a virtue that will tide you over arguments and difficulties, more so than love.

Allan: If I had to settle on one thing, it would be trust. It is most important to trust your partner and place your faith in him or her.

Source: Blissfulbrides.sg.