Walima planning checklist: a timeline for Lahore families

What makes Walima planning different?

The Walima is usually the groom's family's event, and it often comes a day or two after the Baraat. That timing is the main challenge. Many of the same people are involved in both events, the bride is tired, and any vendor who runs late on the Baraat night can knock on into the next day.

It also tends to be the more formal of the two. Families often invite a wider circle, including colleagues and elders, so guest counts can be larger and food expectations higher. Plan the Walima as its own event with its own vendors and timeline, not as an afterthought to the Baraat.

Six to four months before

• Fix the date with both families, and check it against the Baraat and any other functions.
• Set a total budget and a rough split by service. This budget guide suggests a starting point.
• Draft a guest list to get a working number. You can refine it later, but venues and caterers need a ballpark.
• Book the venue. In peak shaadi season, good halls and marquees on popular dates go first. See how to choose a marquee or banquet hall.
• Book the caterer, unless the venue provides food. Ask for a tasting before you confirm the menu.

Three to two months before

• Book decor. Share the venue's dimensions and photos with the decorator, and agree on stage, entrance, table centrepieces and lighting.
• Book photography and video. Be clear on how many hours, whether you want a highlight film, and when edited photos will be delivered.
• Book bridal makeup for the Walima look, and schedule a trial. When to book bridal makeup covers what a trial should include.
• Order invitation cards or plan digital invites.
• Arrange outfits for the couple and close family, leaving time for fittings.

If you would rather not call every vendor yourself, post a request for each service on Bandobast with your date and guest count. Vendors send offers within 24 hours and you compare them side by side.

One month before

• Send invitations and start tracking replies.
• Finalise the menu with the caterer: main dishes, bread, salad, sweet dish, drinks and any live counters.
• Confirm the seating plan with the venue: family tables, separate seating if needed, and the stage layout.
• Plan transport for the couple and elderly guests.
• Check payment status with every vendor. If you booked through Bandobast, your booking pages show what is paid and what is left.

Two weeks to one week before

• Give final guest numbers to the venue and caterer. Most per-head contracts are billed on the number you confirm, so be realistic.
• Call each vendor to confirm the arrival time, setup time and contact person on the day.
• Share a simple run sheet: when guests arrive, when the couple enters, when food opens, when photos happen, and when the venue must close.
• Pay remaining balances on schedule so nothing is held up on the day.
• Prepare an emergency bag: safety pins, tissues, a phone charger, painkillers, small cash for tips and a copy of the run sheet.

On the day

Pick one person who is not the bride, groom or their parents to be the point of contact for vendors. Their job is to answer questions, check setup against what was agreed and keep the run sheet moving. This one decision saves more stress than anything else on this list.

Ask the decorator to finish setup well before guests arrive, so photos of the stage and venue can be taken while it is empty. Keep an eye on food timing: guests in Lahore will wait for the couple, but they do not like waiting long after that for food.

If your vendors are booked through Bandobast, each booking page updates live as they move through preparing, on the way and in progress. Once the event is done, leave a rating. It helps other families and it is only possible for real bookings.