Re: barat and valima merged..
where the heck do people get the idea that the walima can only be held once the marriage is consummated?? as starsky pointed out, the walima is just the reception that the guy is supposed to throw and it also serves the purpose of "announcing" the marriage.
majestic, there are several wedding events in pakistani culture. apart from the mehndi (henna party) and mayun (a party where they rub yellow herbal cleanser on the bride), the nikah can take place either on a separate day followed by a rukhsati (a reception thrown by the girl's side which marks the bride's leave of the family) or during/on the day of the baraat (again, reception thrown from girl's side) after which the girl goes to live with her husband. this is followed by the walima, which, as you know, is the reception thrown by the guy's side. in all of this, only the nikah and walima are islamic, the rest are cultural.