Nikaah & Marriage Issues

Court marriage

Q: I was told that a divorce in court is like a talaaq. There is no need for a separate talaaq. However if you make nikaah, is that valid or does one have to separately get married in court?

The practice of joint waleemahs

Q: In today’s times, we find the practice of a joint waleemah prevalent where the expenses of the waleemah are shared between the boy’s and girl’s party. Is this a Sunnah practice? In the Hadith of Tirmizi Shareef, it is mentioned that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) married Hazrat Safiyyah (Radhiyallahu Anha) during a Jihaad expedition. When the waleemah was held for this nikaah, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) asked the Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu Anhum) to bring whatever food they had in their possession. Each Sahaabi brought whatever food he had and thereafter the food was shared by all. From this Hadith, it apparently seems that the Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu Anhum) contributed towards the waleemah of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Is it possible to use this Hadith to establish the practice of a joint waleemah?