Walima invitations: what the Walima is, who hosts it, and what to write
The Walima is the feast that publicly announces a marriage. It is hosted by the groom's family, and it is a Sunnah, meaning it follows the practice of the Prophet rather than being a cultural addition.
That is the part worth knowing, because it explains why the Walima is treated with more weight than the word reception suggests. It is not simply a party after the wedding.
How it differs from the Nikah
| Nikah | Walima | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The marriage contract and ceremony | The feast announcing the marriage publicly |
| Hosted by | Traditionally the bride's family | The groom's family |
| When | The ceremony itself | After the Nikah, often the next day |
| Guest list | Usually smaller, family and witnesses | Usually the largest of the whole wedding |
| Status | The marriage takes place here | A Sunnah, strongly encouraged |
Because the two guest lists overlap but are not the same, the invitations usually go out separately. If somebody is invited to only one, the invitation should make that unambiguous rather than leaving them to guess.
The point of it
The reasoning behind the Walima is publicity. A marriage should be known, not hidden, and feeding people is how it is announced.
There is also a well known instruction that the poor should not be left out of it, and many families take that seriously by arranging food for those in need alongside the main function. If your family is doing that, it is worth a line on the invitation, because guests often want to contribute.
The other principle usually mentioned is moderation. A Walima is meant to be generous and not extravagant, and plenty of families use that as cover for keeping the guest list and the budget under control.
What to put on the invitation
- Whether there is separate seating, so guests can plan.
- Prayer timings, if the schedule works around Maghrib or Isha. Guests travelling in will want to know.
- Whether photography is welcome, since practice differs and it is far easier said in advance.
- A clear start time for the meal, because Walima functions frequently run a long greeting line before food.
- Which functions this guest is invited to, spelled out, if the Nikah and Walima have different lists.
Walima invitation wording you can copy
Copy any of these and change the names, dates and places. They are written to be read out loud, so they sound right on a phone screen too.
Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem
By the grace of Allah, the marriage of
[Name]
with
[Name]
has been solemnised.
We request the honour of your presence at the Walima
[Day, Date] · [Time]
[Venue]
Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem
"And among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquillity with them."
Surah Ar Rum 30:21
Walima
in honour of the marriage of
[Name] and [Name]
[Day, Date] · [Time]
[Venue]
Hosted by the family of the groom.
Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem
Allah ke fazl se rasm e Nikah ada ho chuki hai.
Walima ki taqreeb
[Naam] aur [Naam]
[Din, Tareekh] · [Waqt]
[Maqam]
Aap ki shirkat hamare liye baais e izzat hogi.
Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem
[Name] and [Name]
Nikah · [Day, Date] · [Time] · [Venue]
Walima · [Day, Date] · [Time] · [Venue]
All timings, directions and seating details are on this link.
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Questions people actually ask
What is a Walima?
The feast that publicly announces a marriage, hosted by the groom's family after the Nikah. It is a Sunnah, which is why it carries more weight than the word reception suggests.
Who pays for the Walima?
The groom's family, traditionally. The Nikah is usually hosted by the bride's family.
When is the Walima held?
After the Nikah, very often the following day, though families hold it the same evening or later depending on circumstances.
Can we invite people to the Walima but not the Nikah?
Yes, and it is completely normal. The Walima guest list is usually the largest of the whole wedding. Just make the invitation unambiguous about which function it is for.
Is there a rule about who should be invited?
There is a well known instruction that the poor should not be left out, and many families arrange food for those in need alongside the main function. Moderation over extravagance is the other principle usually cited.