Asalamu Wa'alykum, There is a couple who are getting married soon. They are going to get their nikkah in the next 2 months and planned on having their walima in the next 6 months. The couple will not be living together till the brother gets a job where he can support his wife. Our question to you is: Is it permissible for them to have Walimah without the couple being intimate or having sexual relations. I heard from other people that 'Walima' literally means 'feast' so you can have it whenever you wish as long as it's after the Nikkah. Is this true?

AAWW,

Once the marriage contract (Nikah) is conducted, the couples become legitimate spouses who are allowed to have conjugal relation. But in some cultures, people delay the marital relation until the wedding ceremony (Walimah) is held. Being in a compliance with the traditions and cultures is acceptable in Islam as long as it does not prohibit what is lawful or allow what is prohibited.

So in your question, if those couples want to delay their intimate relation even after the reception (Walimah) , it is up to them, but they need to know that having sexual intercourse is allowed, Islamically and traditionally as well.