Lakshmi Keerthi

A Computer Science Engineer by qualification, Lakshmi began her career as a Certified Technical Trainer, delivering programs in networking, enterprise systems, and emerging technologies. She worked with leading multinational organizations across India and the United States, where she built a successful corporate career in technology, training, Human Resources, and leadership — receiving several awards recognizing her creativity, innovation, and strategic thinking along the way.

Committed to continuous learning and leadership development, Lakshmi was part of the inaugural Executive Management Program at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore). She later served as Secretary of the IIM Bangalore Alumni Board, contributing to one of India's most respected professional alumni communities.

In 2008, Lakshmi pursued her entrepreneurial vision by entering the wedding industry and founding La'kiru. What began as a boutique wedding trousseau design studio gradually evolved into a luxury wedding planning company, as many of her trousseau clients entrusted her with planning their weddings. Drawing upon her corporate experience in project management, client servicing, and execution, she built a reputation for delivering elegant, meticulously planned, and highly personalized luxury weddings.

Over the years, Lakshmi has conceptualized and executed weddings across diverse cultures, traditions, and destinations, earning the trust of families seeking exceptional celebrations. Her commitment to creativity, professionalism, and flawless execution was recognized with the Excellence in Wedding Planning Award presented by Red FM.

After years of planning weddings at some of India's most prestigious venues, Lakshmi found herself asking a simple yet powerful question: "If I were to create my own wedding venue, what would I do differently?" Having experienced weddings from behind the scenes, she understood the practical challenges faced by couples, planners, venue teams, and vendors. While every venue offered unique strengths, she observed recurring operational challenges that often impacted both the planning process and the guest experience.

Rather than accepting these limitations, Lakshmi envisioned a venue designed from a planner's perspective — where every feature would solve real-world challenges while enhancing the overall wedding experience. One dream remained constant throughout her career: to create a destination wedding experience within Bengaluru itself.

She had witnessed countless couples choosing Jaipur for its regal architecture, royal ambience, and timeless grandeur, and noticed that one of the most requested wedding elements from brides was a floating mandap — an experience rarely available in Bengaluru. Another recurring challenge was managing unpredictable weather during outdoor celebrations, with planners often monitoring forecasts until the final hours. This uncertainty frequently created unnecessary stress for couples who had always dreamed of exchanging their vows beneath the open sky.

These insights inspired the creation of Bougainvil'La, founded in 2024. Designed as a planner-inspired luxury wedding destination, Bougainvil'La features five thoughtfully curated celebration spaces, each offering a distinctive experience — among them a floating mandap framed by Jaipur-inspired architecture, expansive tree-lined celebration spaces, and Bengaluru's first wedding venue with a retractable roof, allowing couples to enjoy outdoor celebrations while remaining protected from unexpected rain or harsh sunlight. Bougainvil'La was recognised as the Best Wedding Venue — Users' Choice by the WedMeGood platform.

While building weddings and venues, Lakshmi observed another significant gap within the industry. Despite the rapid growth of the wedding business, aspiring planners often received theoretical education with very limited exposure to real-world execution. She believed the industry needed professionals who could confidently lead weddings — not merely study them. This vision led to the establishment of The Wedding Business School in Bengaluru in 2026.

Built on the philosophy of experiential learning, The Wedding Business School enables students to learn, live, and lead real weddings alongside industry professionals. As India's first residential Wedding Business School, it prepares future wedding entrepreneurs, planners, venue managers and event professionals through immersive, hands-on education that bridges the gap between classroom learning and industry practice. Read more about our story →

Today, Lakshmi continues to shape the future of the Indian wedding industry through her integrated ecosystem of businesses — planning luxury weddings, operating an innovative destination wedding venue, mentoring aspiring professionals, and building one of India's most immersive wedding management education platforms. Her mission is simple yet ambitious: to elevate the wedding industry by creating exceptional experiences, venues, and professionals.