Not long after Pete Singh began DJ-ing in high school, he noticed that party organizers were bringing in vendors from out of town for lighting and décor. “You know what?” he asked himself. “They’re paying guys an arm and a leg to travel from outside, but we can do this, too!” 
At the time, only a few event pros handled South Asian or Bollywood-type affairs in Kansas City, though “the city needed it,” he said, and even though he was only 17, he began to fill that gap. Soon he went from two or three parties a year to become one of the Kansas City area’s busiest event design businesses, creating highly personalized and multicultural weddings, receptions, anniversaries and other celebrations across the Midwest.
Kiran’s Decorations offers everything from furniture and centerpieces to mandaps, the heavily decorated canopy used in many South Asian weddings, as well as lighting, draping and large-scale installations.
The process is collaborative. Clients arrive with ideas, Singh contributes suggestions they may not have considered, and the result is often something neither side would have imagined on their own.
“I always want a face-to-face,” he explains. “I want to see when somebody’s talking about their event, what are they saying, and after years of meeting with lots and lots of brides, mothers, fathers and husbands and talking to them, we’ve learned how to collaborate and m
ake magic happen.”
When Singh started in event design, client preferences centered heavily on fabric, with elaborate draping, swags and layered textiles. However, he says, “in this business you’ve got to keep up. If not, then you’re going to get left behind. You have to stay on top of new trends if you want to be unique.”
Those trends have shifted toward more architectural and immersive elements, including custom panels, LED screens and three-dimensional structures. Singh continually invests in new inventory and concepts, often introducing designs before they become widespread locally. Upcoming additions include new backdrop styles, custom panel systems and immersive experiences, such as an “under the sea” theme featuring specialized water effects and LED ceiling installations designed to recreate an underwater atmosphere.
The highly personalized touch is intentional. 
“I tell all my employees and myself, ‘Pretend this is your wedding,’” Singh says. “‘How would you want it to be done?’ Pretend and kind of go from there.”
That extra touch is especially important now in this age of social media when photos are shared instantly across many platforms and preserved pretty much forever. That means paying close attention to every visual detail, from hiding exit signs to layering backdrops to create cleaner, more polished images.
“Pictures mean more than anything now,” Singh said. “We take a hands-on approach to make sure that clients appreciate not only the event itself, but the memories captured in photographs for years to come.”
What started off as a “family” business named for his three daughters, who all share a middle name, Kiran, is in fact a family business now. “My mom’s involved, my wife’s involved,” he says. “and the kids even help out here and there putting on chair covers.”
Kiran’s Decorations has been part of the Ball Event Center’s “family” of approved vendors for over 20 years, and Singh knows that the venue itself is a major part of making the celebration come together and run smoothly. For Singh, Ball stands out not only because of its flexibility, practicality and amenities, but because of the people behind it.
“Michael is so easy-going and just tremendous to work with,” he said, adding that the flat fee structure and vendor-friendly policies are among the many reasons why the Center is consistently busy and in demand as an event space.
Contact Pete through Kiran’s Decorations website, and Ball Event Center through theirs, for an event that dazzles the eye, creates lasting memories and truly celebrates any and all life events.
