Question:

1. Is the waleemah sunnah before or after consumation?
Does consumation refer to actual intercourse, or is privacy between the two sufficient?

2. Will the sunnah of waleemah be carried out if people are fed immediately after the marriage and before the couple can
seclude themselves in privacy?

Answer:

1. The waleemah meal is to be fed after the couple have met in privacy. It may take place on the same day or the day
thereafter,when friends and family gather to celebrate the joy of the marriage. Poor people and ulema should also be
invited to the function.

There are also scholars who state that the waleemah may be hosted at the time of the marriage and thereafter as well. However, it is makrooh to host it two days afterwards.