Walima

The walima is hosted by the groom's family and is religiously recommended in Islam as a public celebration of the marriage. In Pakistani practice it functions as the formal welcome of the bride into her new family and is typically the most upscale of the three functions — venues are larger, decor is more polished, and the guest list extends to the groom's side's full network.

Walima vs baraat — what's different

The bride wears a different outfit (often pastel, cream, or pink — distinct from the baraat red). The hosting responsibility shifts entirely to the groom's family. Decor tends to be more refined and less explicitly traditional than the baraat. The function is shorter, more reception-focused, less ceremony-focused.