The walima is the reception the groom's family hosts the night after the barat, and it is the night the bride is
photographed most: on the stage, at the table, with every relative who did not get a picture the night before. The
walima dress is softer than the barat piece, more elegant than loud, and it is where brides abroad allow themselves
the most modern choices. These are the walima looks our brides in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia ask for.
1. The ivory or champagne walima gown
The walima gown is the signature look of the last few years: a long flowing gown, often with a trail, in ivory,
champagne or pale gold, worked in pearls, sequins and fine dabka. Some brides add a cropped embroidered jacket over it
for the entrance and take it off for the dinner. A gown photographs beautifully on a stage and moves well for the
walk in.
2. The walima maxi
A maxi is a gown's simpler cousin: a long, straight or gently flared dress with a worked bodice and a lighter skirt,
worn with a dupatta or a long veil. It is easier to sit and eat in than a full gown, and it suits brides who want a
clean, modern line. Champagne, blush, silver and sage are the maxi colours most chosen.
3. The pastel lehenga with a long shirt
For brides who want the fullness of a lehenga at the walima without the barat's weight, a lehenga with a long shirt
in blush, mint, powder blue or lilac is the answer. The handwork is lighter and the colours softer, and a long
organza dupatta or veil completes it.
4. The pishwas
A pishwas, the long full-flared frock of Mughal courts, has come back for walimas. In net or organza with a worked
bodice and a light border, it has a romantic, old-world grace, and it twirls.
5. Velvet for a winter walima
A winter walima in the UK, Canada or the northern USA is cold, and a velvet walima dress is both warm and rich in
photographs. Emerald, navy, wine, plum and deep teal velvet with gold or antique gold work are the winter walima
classics. Velvet also suits a long shirt and trousers silhouette very well.
6. The walima saree
A saree at the walima is elegant and increasingly chosen by brides who want something different from the barat
lehenga. A net or chiffon saree with a worked border and a fitted embroidered blouse, in ivory, gold, wine or
emerald, drapes beautifully for photographs.
Walima dress colours
The walima is the night of soft and rich colours rather than red:
- Ivory, off-white, champagne, pale gold: the most chosen, especially with a gown or maxi.
- Blush, peach, dusty rose: warm pastels for spring and summer walimas.
- Mint, sage, powder blue, lilac: cool pastels, lovely in daylight venues.
- Emerald, navy, wine, plum: jewel tones for winter and velvet.
- Silver and grey: modern and understated, with crystal work.
If the bride's walima is ivory, guests are gently steered away from white. Your family will pass that on.
Handwork that suits the walima
Where the barat piece carries heavy zardozi, the walima piece carries light: pearls, sequins, crystals, fine dabka
and silver or gold naqshi. The work is placed where the camera sees it, the bodice, the neckline, the border of the
veil, and kept lighter on the skirt so the piece flows.
Walima dress with a long veil
A long veil at the walima, worn over the head for the entrance and over the shoulders for the dinner, is one of the
most searched walima looks. It works with a gown, a maxi or a lehenga. The veil is cut long enough to trail behind
the gown and its border is worked to match the bodice.
Choosing yours
Three questions decide it:
- Venue and season. A summer garden walima wants organza and pastels; a winter hall walima can take velvet and
jewel tones. - How you want to move. A gown for the grand entrance; a maxi or a long shirt if you want to sit, eat and greet
comfortably all night. - Your barat piece. The walima should look nothing like the barat. Red and heavy on the barat night means soft
and light on the walima night.
Having your walima dress made to measure
Every walima piece we make is made to order in our own workshop in Pakistan, worked by hand, in your colour and to
your measurements. Brides often send us a walima look they love and ask for it in a different shade, with longer
sleeves, or with a lighter skirt, and we plan it with them on WhatsApp before cutting. See the
walima page for pieces made in our workshop, and how it works for the steps.
Questions brides ask
Gown or maxi? A gown for the entrance and the stage photographs; a maxi if you want to sit, eat and greet comfortably all night. Some brides have the gown's trail detachable for the dinner.
Can the walima dress be modest? Yes, and the gown silhouette suits it: full sleeves, a higher neckline and a veil or dupatta designed to sit over a hijab. See our modest bridal page.
Should the walima dress match the barat? No. The two nights should look nothing alike. Red and heavy on the barat means soft and light on the walima.
What if my walima is in summer? Organza, net and chiffon in pastels or ivory, with pearls and crystals, and no velvet. Tell us the venue and the month and we will suggest the fabric.
A walima piece takes 8 to 12 weeks to make, plus shipping, so message us at least four months before your date:
WhatsApp Omar Arshad Couture.