# Walima: what it is and how to plan the wedding feast > What a walima is, when it is held after the nikah, who hosts it, guest count, typical costs and a planning checklist for Pakistani and Muslim weddings. - **URL**: https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/walima Also called: Valima, Walimah The short answer The walima is the wedding feast the groom's family hosts after the nikah, usually within a day or a few days of the wedding. It celebrates the marriage and announces it to the wider community. In Pakistani and many Muslim South Asian weddings it is the final big event, from a modest dinner to a large reception. - **When:** After the nikah and rukhsati, often the next day or within a few days - **How long:** Typically 3 to 5 hours - **Typical guests:** Often 150 to 400, sometimes more - **Hosted by:** The groom's family - **What to wear:** Formal wear; the bride often wears a lighter or pastel outfit What it is ## What is a walima? The walima is a feast held after the marriage. Hosting a walima is a sunnah, a practice of the Prophet Muhammad. Families often describe it as sharing their happiness and making the marriage known. It is traditionally hosted and paid for by the groom's family, in contrast to the baraat day, which the bride's family usually hosts. A typical Pakistani wedding runs through several events: dholki nights, the mayun, the mehndi, the baraat with the nikah and rukhsati (the bride's departure with her new family), and finally the walima. Some families hold the nikah separately, at a mosque or at home, days or weeks before the baraat. Walimas range from a family dinner at home to a banquet hall reception with hundreds of guests. The couple sits together on a stage, guests come up to congratulate them and take photos, and dinner is the centerpiece. Timing ## When it happens and how the walima runs A sample evening walima: 1. Arrival: Guests arrive and are seated. Families greet guests at the entrance. 2. Couple's entry: The couple enters together and takes their place on the stage. 3. Next: Guests take turns congratulating the couple, with photos on stage. 4. Dinner: Dinner is served, usually the main event of the evening. 5. Close: Family photos and the couple's departure. Plan the stage photo queue. With a large guest list it can take longer than dinner. Guests ## How many guests come to a walima? The walima is often one of the largest events of a Pakistani or Muslim South Asian wedding, typically somewhere between 150 and 400 guests and sometimes more. The groom's family usually sets the guest list, and many families invite the bride's family as well. Because the groom's family hosts, it helps to keep the walima guest list separate from the baraat list so each family can see its own numbers. To estimate turnout for each event, [the guest attendance calculator](https://www.planme.club/tools/indian-wedding-guest-attendance-calculator) can help. Checklist ## Walima planning checklist ### 6 to 12 months before - Agree on the date with both families. The walima is often the day after the baraat. - Book the venue and caterer. Halal catering may be a requirement. - Decide whether the walima is a large reception or a smaller dinner. ### 1 to 3 months before - Send invitations and collect RSVPs for the walima on its own. - Plan the stage, the couple's seating and decor. - Book the photographer and videographer, and plan the stage photo order. - Plan separate seating if your families prefer men's and women's sections. ### The week of - Give the caterer your final headcount. - Confirm the couple's arrival time after any morning events. - Make sure elders have seating near the stage. Costs ## What drives the cost of a walima Food and venue are the main costs of a walima. Costs depend on your city, the season and your guest count, so we don't quote ranges here. Get two or three quotes for each line below, and see [what an Indian wedding costs in the US](https://www.planme.club/articles/how-much-does-an-indian-wedding-cost) for published ranges with sources. | Cost | What to ask for in the quote | What drives it | | --- | --- | --- | | Venue | From a home or community hall to a banquet hall | Banquet halls often bundle food. | | Catering | Priced per head | Ask whether the price includes halal meat, service and tax. | | Stage and decor | Quoted per event; ask what the couple's stage, florals and lighting include | The couple's stage is the focal point. | | Photo and video | Usually part of the wedding package | Stage photos take time; plan for it. | | Outfits | Varies | The walima outfit is often lighter than the baraat outfit. | A smaller walima with close family and friends is fully in keeping with the custom, and a common way to save. Halal catering and hall prices vary by city and season, so get quotes. To price your own weekend event by event, use the [Indian wedding budget calculator](https://www.planme.club/tools/indian-wedding-budget-calculator). RSVPs and guests ## RSVP and guest tips for the walima - Make clear which events each guest is invited to. Pakistani weddings often have different lists for each one. - Give the start time and when dinner will be served. - If seating is separated, mention it so guests aren't surprised. - Let guests know where to park and whether there is a gift table. Pakistani weddings often have a different list for each event, so see [how to run one RSVP per event](https://www.planme.club/articles/wedding-rsvp-multiple-events) and [when to set your RSVP deadline](https://www.planme.club/tools/wedding-rsvp-deadline-calculator). With PlanMe ## How PlanMe helps you plan the walima In PlanMe the walima sits in its own [festivity](https://www.planme.club/features/festivities), with a separate guest list, RSVP, seating plan and budget. For the groom's family, that means: - A walima guest list kept separate from the mehndi and baraat, and its own RSVP. - The walima's own [budget](https://www.planme.club/features/budget) line, with costs split with co-hosts if you share them. - A [seating plan](https://www.planme.club/features/seating-chart) with the stage, buffet and any separate sections. - A menu with dietary tags so the caterer knows exactly what to prepare. - [Email or text a reminder](https://www.planme.club/features/guest-messaging) to guests who haven't replied yet, using RSVP status or a tag like Bride side. [Start planning free](https://app.planme.club/sign-up) - [See all features](https://www.planme.club/features) Free during beta. No credit card needed. Questions ## Walima questions Related reading - [Who pays for a South Asian wedding](https://www.planme.club/articles/who-pays-for-an-indian-wedding) - [Guest list template by event](https://www.planme.club/articles/indian-wedding-guest-list-template) - [RSVP for multiple events](https://www.planme.club/rsvp-for-multiple-events) - [Cost split calculator](https://www.planme.club/tools/indian-wedding-cost-split-calculator) ### What is a walima? The wedding feast hosted by the groom's family after the nikah. It celebrates the marriage and shares the news with family and community. ### When is the walima held? After the nikah and rukhsati, often the next day or within a few days. Families decide the exact timing. ### Who pays for the walima? Traditionally the groom's family hosts and pays for the walima. Our article on [who pays for an Indian wedding](https://www.planme.club/articles/who-pays-for-an-indian-wedding) covers how Pakistani and Muslim families split the other events. ### Is the walima the same as a reception? It plays a similar role, but it has religious meaning as a sunnah and is hosted by the groom's family. Many families treat it as their reception. See our [reception planning guide](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/reception). ### How many events are in a Pakistani wedding? Often four or more: dholki nights, mayun, mehndi, the baraat with the nikah and rukhsati, and the walima. Many families combine or skip some. More wedding events ## Plan the rest of the weekend - [Roka and engagement: The families agree, the couple exchanges rings, and wedding planning officially starts.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/roka) - [Haldi: Turmeric paste, close family and a lot of yellow, usually the day before or morning of the wedding.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/haldi) - [Mehndi: Henna for the bride, music and food for close family, usually one to three days before the wedding.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/mehndi) - [Garba and raas: A Gujarati night of circle dancing and dandiya, often one of the liveliest events of the weekend.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/garba) - [Baraat: The groom arrives with dancing family and friends, and the bride's family welcomes them in.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/baraat) - [Wedding ceremony: The religious ceremony itself: mandap and pheras, Anand Karaj or nikah, with most of the guest list there.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/wedding-ceremony) - [Reception: The biggest party of the weekend: entrances, speeches, dinner and dancing for the whole guest list.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/reception) - [Sangeet: Our full sangeet planning guide.](https://www.planme.club/articles/how-to-plan-a-sangeet) Not sure what order they go in? See [Indian wedding events in order](https://www.planme.club/articles/indian-wedding-events-in-order), or [all wedding event guides](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events).