Function guide
Planning the Walima
The walima is the groom's side reception, traditionally held a day or two after the baraat, and it's planned and budgeted somewhat differently from the functions before it, mainly because the hosting side and often the guest list both shift.
Why the guest list differs
Because the groom's family hosts the walima, its guest list commonly skews toward the groom's extended family, friends, and professional contacts, and is finalized somewhat independently of the baraat's guest list. Overlap is common for close family on both sides, but treating the walima guest list as a copy of the baraat's often undercounts the groom's side's own invitees.
What changes in the catering order
Many families deliberately vary the walima menu from the baraat's, partly to avoid repetition for guests attending both functions, and partly because the hosting family may have its own regional or family-specific dishes it wants represented. Confirm the walima menu as its own decision rather than assuming it mirrors the baraat.
Whether the walima will be a sit-down formal dinner or a buffet-style reception. This choice affects both the catering cost per head and the seating and venue layout needed, and is worth locking in at the same stage as the baraat's catering decision.
Timing it after the baraat
A one or two day gap between the baraat and walima is typical, giving both families, and especially the couple, a brief recovery window. Holding the walima the same evening as the baraat is workable but compresses an already long day considerably.
Confirm with the venue whether booking both the baraat and walima at the same location qualifies for any package pricing. Some venues offer a modest discount for multi-function bookings.
What this function typically costs
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Venue and catering, per head | Rs 3,500–9,000 | Often similar per-head rate to the baraat, confirm menu differences don't change pricing |
| Stage and decor | Rs 60,000–220,000 | Frequently simpler than the mehndi's decor spend |
| Photography, if booked separately | Rs 40,000–150,000 | Many packages bundle this with the baraat instead |
FAQ
Is the walima always hosted by the groom's family?
Traditionally yes, though some families now co-host or split costs more evenly, similar to the shift seen with the baraat.
Does the bride wear a different outfit at the walima?
Almost always a separate outfit from the baraat, commonly in a different color palette chosen to suit the groom's family's preferences or regional tradition.
Can the walima be skipped or combined with the baraat?
Some smaller or more budget-conscious weddings do combine them into a single function, though this is less common and changes the catering and guest-list planning considerably from the two-function norm this guide assumes.