Former S'pore MP Carrie Tan, 43, opens up about marrying a single father & life in a blended family: CNA

Former Nee Soon Group Representative Constituency (GRC) Member of Parliament (MP) Carrie Tan spoke publicly about her marriage with her husband, offering a candid glimpse into life in a blended family and the expectations that come with marrying a single father.

Proposed to her husband in 2025

In a Facebook reel on May 16, 2025, the 43-year-old announced that she had proposed to her boyfriend of seven years, Kevin Teo, on Apr. 26, 2025.

Her video caption read: "Watch the video of me breaking another gender barrier with this crazy (not so crazy) thing I did".

In it, she surprised both Teo and their audience by presenting him with an engagement ring.

The clip garnered widespread attention and praise on social media, with many applauding her for challenging gender norms and embracing vulnerability.

Co-habiting

In an interview with CNA Insider, Tan revealed that they had already been living together for four years before tying the knot in December 2025.

Their decision to marry came from both practical considerations and a moment of reflection.

She shared that she had a sudden thought that it would be a regret if they grew old and did not have any nice photos together, which led her to suggest doing a travel photoshoot with Teo.

When they mentioned the idea to their parents, it sparked questions about whether wedding plans were underway, and this got the couple thinking.

In the end, they decided to get married partly to put their parents' minds at ease.

Tan also shared that she had chosen not to publicise her cohabiting situation when she was an MP.

"I am aware that certain people in society might look at cohabiting in a certain way," Tan said, adding that she preferred not to let societal opinions influence her decisions.

In fact, the home they now share is co-owned by Teo and his former wife.

Tan joked that the only thing she initially found strange about moving in was the bed, which they eventually replaced.

Teo has two teenage sons

Teo divorced his then-wife in 2018 and has two teenage sons aged 15 and 17.

Although he told Tan about his children when they first met, she admitted she did not fully understand what dating a single father would entail until their first trip together to Bandung.

Tan recalled one incident during the holiday when the boys began fighting in their hotel room, which she said left her so "traumatised" that she hid in the bathroom to cry.

"Half the time during the trip, I was just stressed out," Tan confessed.

She shared that as their relationship developed, she found herself wondering if Teo's children would accept her.

Over time, the family settled into a comfortable dynamic.

Teo's eldest son, William, shared that he accepted their relationship and was glad that his father had started to move on.

The boys added that they see Tan as a really close relative.

"Because we already call our mum, 'mum', it would be weird to call Aunty Carrie 'mum' as well," William said.

Met in 2011

Teo and Tan revealed during the interview that they had met in 2011 through a mutual friend, and they would sometimes bump into each other at conferences and events.

Around the same period, Tan’s previous marriage, which she described as "hasty" as they had only dated for three months, ended in an annulment.

Years later, following his divorce in 2018, Teo said he knew moving forward that his future partner would have to "understand the consequences and considerations around marriage and family".

For Tan, entering a relationship with Teo required what she described as a "mental adjustment".

She realised that being with a devoted father meant she might never be his first priority, but she came to see his commitment to his children as a reflection of the dedication he would also bring to their relationship.

CPF nomination

After their wedding, Tan told CNA Insider that it felt like nothing had changed, until a few days later when Teo received a message from the Central Provident Fund (CPF) regarding his nomination arrangements.

It turned out that Teo had allocated his CPF savings to his two sons and had asked Tan to witness the nomination.

Tan admitted she felt a little "puzzled" by the decision.

The conversation made them realise that they had differing views on what should be done with the CPF savings: Tan saw the funds as future security for their old age, while Teo saw them primarily as an insurance safeguard for his children.

This became a moment of reflection for Teo. Having entered marriage as a way of affirming their commitment to one another, he shared that he later decided to update his nomination.

Top photos from @carrietancares/Instagram