The Walima is the celebration — the reception where the wider community comes together to celebrate the marriage, often on a larger scale than the Nikkah itself. It's usually the event with the biggest guest list, the most formal dining, and the most opportunity to make a real visual statement at your London venue. Here's how to think through styling it well.
The Walima Sets a Different Tone Than the Nikkah
Where a Nikkah tends to be intimate and understated, a Walima is typically bigger, more celebratory, and more visually elaborate. This is usually where couples choose their boldest stage design, their most striking backdrop, and their most complete table styling — it's the event most guests will remember most vividly.
Choosing a Stage That Matches the Scale
Because Walimas often have larger guest counts than a Nikkah, the stage needs to hold its own in a bigger room. A wider stage, a more elaborate floral or luxe design, and stronger lighting all help ensure the stage remains the visual focal point even in a large hall, rather than getting lost against the scale of the room.
Formal Dining Done Well
Since a Walima usually involves a full seated meal for a large guest list, high dining — traditional chairs and tables — is almost always the right choice here, prioritising comfort and practicality for a longer, formal event over the relaxed floor seating you might choose for a Mehndi.
Table Styling for a Larger Guest List
With more tables to style, consistency becomes especially important. Centrepieces, candles and table linen should be identical or closely coordinated across every table — small inconsistencies are far more noticeable across twenty tables than they would be across three or four.
Signage for a Bigger Event
Larger Walimas often benefit from more comprehensive signage than a Nikkah — a clear table plan, directional signs if your venue has multiple spaces, and a welcome sign positioned somewhere every guest will naturally pass on arrival.
Carrying Your Colour Palette Through
If you've already chosen a palette for your Nikkah or Mehndi, the Walima is a natural place to either continue that same colour story at a larger scale, or introduce a bolder, more celebratory palette that reflects the bigger, more festive nature of the reception. Both approaches work well — it's really about what feels right as the final event in your celebrations.
Coordinating a Multi-Event Wedding
If you're planning a Nikkah, Mehndi and Walima as part of one wedding, it's worth having all three designed with some awareness of each other, even if each has a distinct look. A decor team working across all your events can help ensure a sense of visual progression through your celebrations, rather than three completely disconnected designs.
Planning Your Walima Decor
Tell us your guest count, your venue, and your vision for the day, and we'll design a Walima setup that matches the scale and significance of the celebration — from stage to table styling to signage.