Junior Rasmussen
Pakistani weddings are known to be vibrant, colourful, and extravagant affairs, filled with joy and celebrations. They are made up of a series of events, customs, and traditions, which usually span over a few days, with some weddings lasting up to a week or two. The length of the wedding depends on the number of events and traditions that the couple chooses to include, and these can vary based on regional and cultural differences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Typical length | 3-7 days |
| Longest length | Over two weeks |
| Baloch weddings | 1-2 days |
| Arranged marriage finalisation time | Up to a year or more |
| Number of events | Many |
| First event | Dholki |
| Pre-wedding functions | Engagement, Dholki, Mayoun, Ubtan, Mehndi |
| Wedding day | Barat |
| After-marriage events | Valima, Chauthi, Makhlawa |
| Food | Halal meat, pulao, biryani, chicken curry, kebabs, kheer, halwa |
| Bride's attire | Colourful saree, lengha |
| Groom's attire | Sherwani |
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What You'll Learn
The length of a Pakistani wedding varies depending on the couple's ethnicity, religion, and region
Pakistani weddings are vibrant, colourful, and extravagant affairs, typically made up of a series of events that span several days. The length of a Pakistani wedding varies depending on the couple's ethnicity, religion, and region.
A typical Pakistani wedding consists of two main events: the Nikah and the Walima. The Nikah is the formal marriage ceremony where a marriage contract, or Nikahnama, is signed by both the bride and groom in the presence of close family members and two witnesses. The Walima is the formal reception hosted by the husband and wife, making the marriage public. Traditionally held at home, the Walima is now often held at marriage halls, restaurants, or hotels. The Walima is a grand dinner and reception hosted by the groom, bringing an end to the wedding events and serving as an opportunity to thank guests and family.
In addition to these main events, there are several pre-wedding functions and after-marriage events that can take place over a week or more. Pre-wedding functions include the engagement, Dholki, Mayoun, Ubtan, and Mehndi. The Mehndi is one of the most important events for the bride, where intricate henna patterns are drawn on her hands and feet. The Mehndi is also a highly anticipated event filled with dance performances. After-marriage events include the Valima and Chauthi.
The length of a Pakistani wedding can also depend on the couple's regional variations. For example, Baloch weddings are known to be lavish and short, typically lasting only one or two days. On the other hand, some Pakistani weddings can span over a week or two, with additional dinners and lunches hosted by friends and family of the couple to formally accept them as a couple.
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The ceremonies and celebrations that make up a Pakistani wedding
Pakistani weddings are vibrant, colourful, and extravagant affairs, typically made up of a vast number of events occurring over several days. Wedding customs vary according to ethnicity and religion, but most marriages in Pakistan are traditional arranged marriages, semi-arranged marriages, or love marriages.
A typical Pakistani wedding consists of two main events: the Nikah and Walima. The Nikah (or Nikaah) is the formal marriage ceremony where a marriage contract, or Nikahnama, is signed by both the bride and groom in the presence of close family members. The Nikah is typically performed by a religious scholar at a mosque, and the bride and groom must have two witnesses present to ensure the marriage is consensual. The Walima is the formal reception hosted by the married couple, making the marriage public. It is usually a huge celebration with many relatives and invited guests from both families in attendance. Traditionally, the Walima was hosted at home, but these days they are often held in marriage halls, restaurants, or hotels.
Pakistani weddings usually begin with a Dholki, a pre-celebration that takes place one or two weeks before the main event. The bridal party, close friends, and relatives of the bride and groom attend, singing and dancing to the beat of a dholak drum. Before the main ceremony, the bride will have a Mehndi (henna party), where intricate henna patterns are drawn on her hands and feet. The Mehndi is considered the most exciting event of the whole marriage. The betrothed pair rejoices at the event separately, each with their own family and friends.
There are also several pre-wedding functions, including engagement, Mayoun (or Mayun), Ubtan, and then the most-awaited wedding day, Barat (or Baraat). Mayoun is held a week or a few days before the wedding, during which the bride and groom do not see or contact each other. The bride takes part in beautification ceremonies, including the application of Ubtan, a paste of sandalwood powder, turmeric, oils, and herbs, which is believed to enhance her beauty. At the Barat, the bride traditionally wears red, and the groom wears a Sherwani. Baloch weddings are known to be lavish and short, often taking just one or two days to complete.
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The legalities of a Pakistani wedding
A Pakistani wedding, or Shaadi, is a vibrant, colourful, and extravagant affair, lasting anywhere from a day to several days or even weeks. The legal and necessary part of the wedding is the Nikah (نِكاح), where a marriage contract or Nikahnama (نکاح نامہ) is signed by both the bride and groom in the presence of close family members. This is the only strictly necessary part of a Pakistani wedding, with all other events being cultural or traditional.
The Nikah is typically performed by a religious scholar at a mosque, such as an imam, mufti, sheikh, or mullah, who is licensed by the government to conduct the ceremony. The ceremony is short and simple, with the bride and groom signing the marriage contract and exchanging rings. The bride and groom must also have two witnesses present to ensure that the marriage is consensual.
Before the Nikah, there is usually an engagement ceremony, which is a more intimate affair with close family members. In traditional engagements, the bride and groom do not sit together, and rings are exchanged by the groom's mother or sister, and vice versa. However, these segregated ceremonies are becoming rarer, and rings are now usually exchanged between the couple. After the engagement, a prayer (Dua) and blessings are recited, and the wedding date is decided.
The Walima (ولِيمہ) is the formal reception hosted by the newly married couple, making the marriage public. It is a grand celebration with many guests and relatives from both families in attendance. Traditionally held at home, the Walima is now often held in marriage halls, restaurants, or hotels. The Walima includes a variety of customs and traditions, such as the groom's shoe being hidden by the bride's sisters or cousins and returned only after receiving a cash payment.
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The fashion, food, and entertainment of a Pakistani wedding
Pakistani weddings are joyful and colourful events, filled with many traditions and rituals, and they can last from three days to a week or even two. The weddings are not just a union of the couple but also of their families, and there are several pre- and post-wedding events to attend.
Fashion
The bride's attire is of utmost importance, with specific colours being worn for different events. For instance, the bride usually wears yellow for the Mayoun, red for the Barat, and pastel shades for the Valima or Walima, with plenty of gold jewellery. The groom wears a Sherwani for the Barat and a suit for the Valima. Guests from both sides attend the Valima/Walima, and there are speeches, music, and dance performances. The bride's friends and siblings traditionally escort her to the Mehndi ceremony, where she wears flowers in her hair and a henna artist applies henna to her hands.
Food
Food is an essential element of a Pakistani wedding, with a variety of cuisines on offer, from Pakistani and Gujarati to Punjabi and African. The wedding reception includes juices and food, and the Valima/Walima is a feast in honour of the newlywed couple, hosted by the groom's family.
Entertainment
Entertainment includes music and dancing, with Dholki being a ceremony where traditional wedding songs are sung and played on the Dholki drum. There are also Bollywood influences, with glamorous actors and actresses, scriptwriters, set designers, music, and choreography.
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The cost of a Pakistani wedding
Pakistani weddings are vibrant, colourful, and extravagant affairs, typically lasting between 3 to 7 days, with many customs and traditions. The cost of a Pakistani wedding can vary depending on various factors, such as the venue, number of guests, catering, decorations, attire, and photography. Here is a breakdown of the potential expenses:
Venue
The choice of venue can significantly impact the overall cost of the wedding. Popular options include renting a bungalow, hosting the wedding at a marriage hall, restaurant, or hotel, or even opting for a home wedding. The rental cost for a bungalow can range from 20,000 to 30,000 PKR, while hotel banquet halls can be more expensive.
Catering
Catering costs can vary depending on the menu choices and the number of guests. A decent menu option, such as Biryani, Salan, and dessert, can cost around 350 PKR per person. For 200 guests, this would amount to approximately 70,000 PKR. It is recommended to focus on the quality of the food rather than the quantity and to consider the one-dish rule to avoid waste.
Decorations
Decorations can also add up, with an estimated cost of around 30,000 PKR. To save costs, fresh flowers can be used instead of expensive decorative items.
Attire
The bridal outfit can vary in price depending on whether it is designer or non-designer. A non-designer bridal outfit can cost between 30,000 to 50,000 PKR, while a designer outfit can range from 80,000 to 120,000 PKR. The groom's attire, typically a suit, can range from 5,000 to 50,000 PKR.
Photography and Makeup
Photography is an essential part of a Pakistani wedding, with packages ranging from 50,000 to 80,000 PKR. Additionally, the bride's makeup can cost around 20,000 to 40,000 PKR for a professional service.
Miscellaneous Expenses
Other expenses to consider include entertainment, such as the "baraat," where the groom's shoe is hidden and returned for a fee, and the traditional milk-drinking ceremony, which also involves a payment. Gifts for the bride and groom, such as envelopes with cash or personalized frames, are also customary.
In total, a decent Pakistani wedding can cost around 400,000 to 500,000 PKR, which is approximately 3,000 USD. It is important to prioritize and allocate the budget wisely, focusing on the most important aspects of the wedding to create a memorable celebration within the desired budget.
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Frequently asked questions
Pakistani weddings are made up of a series of events and celebrations, which can last anywhere from one day to a week or two.
The first event is usually a Dholki, which takes place one or two weeks before the main celebrations.
A Dholki is a pre-celebration where the bridal party, close friends, and family of the bride and groom gather to sing and dance to the beat of a dholak drum.
There are several events between the Dholki and the wedding ceremony, including the Mehndi (henna party) for the bride, the Ubtan, and the Mayoun. The wedding ceremony itself is called the Nikah, and it is followed by the Walima, which marks the end of the wedding celebrations.
The Nikah and Walima are the two main events of a Pakistani wedding, but there is no standard time frame for the gap between them. The Walima is a grand reception hosted by the groom, which marks the end of the wedding celebrations and is usually held a few days after the Nikah.
