What you need for a 100th birthday party

A 100th birthday needs more than a cake and a few balloons. Plan your shopping around the guest count, meal format and length of the celebration, then check servingware, drinks, coffee supplies and memory-table materials separately. For a seated meal, allow one dinner plate, fork, knife and drinking glass per guest, plus about 10% extra. This list also covers the items people often remember too late, such as thermos flasks, name cards, extension leads and enough space for coats.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 7
Chairsqty 55
Tableclothsqty 7
Coat Rack

Tableware

Dinner Platesqty 60
Dessert Platesqty 60
Coffee Cupsqty 60
Drinking glassesqty 80
Wine glassesqty 60
Coffee Spoonsqty 60
Dinner knivesqty 60
Dinner forksqty 60
Serving Spoonsqty 10

Kitchen

Serving bowlsqty 10
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving utensilsqty 12
Cutting Boardsqty 3
Chef's and bread knivesqty 4
Water jugsqty 6
Coffee Machinesqty 2
Thermosesqty 4

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Bluetooth Speaker
Microphone
Extension Cordsqty 3

Decorations

Balloonqty 100
Balloon arch
Bannersqty 8
Table decorationsqty 8
Photo Framesqty 12
Welcome sign
Name tagsqty 55
Flower vasesqty 8

Lighting

String Lightsqty 4

Cleaning

Trash binsqty 4
Bucketsqty 2
Mopsqty 2
Broom and dustpanqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 3 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liters
- Coffee creamer - 2 packs
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Orange soda - 3 bottles
- Tonic - 2 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 cartons
- Orange juice - 3 cartons
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 bottles
- Pilsner - 36 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Prosecco - 4 bottles
- Ice cubes - 8 bags
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Mini rolls - 60 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 500 grams
- Mild cheese - 2 kilos
- Brie - 1 kilo
- Cooked ham - 1.5 kilos
- Smoked chicken breast - 1 kilo
- Hummus - 1 kilo
- Egg salad - 1 kilo
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilos
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Bananas - 20 pieces
- Strawberries - 2 kilos
- Mixed nuts - 1.5 kilos
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Salted sticks - 4 bags
- Olives - 4 jars
- Pickles - 2 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Soup - 8 liters
- Soup breadsticks - 4 packs
- Pasta Salad - 4 kilos
- Potato Salad - 4 kilos
- Mixed green salad - 4 kilos
- Salad dressing - 4 bottles
- Quiche - 8 pieces
- Vegetarian quiche - 3 pieces
- Baguettes for buffet - 8 pieces
- Herb butter - 1 kilo
- Birthday cake - 1 cake for 55 people
- Whipped cream - 6 cans
- Petit Fours - 60 pieces
- Candles - 10 pieces
- Ketchup sachets - 1 box
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash Bags - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 1 pack
- Tea towels - 12 pieces

Tips

Order the birthday cake at least 7 days ahead and confirm the collection time the day before. Keep a cake knife, cake plates and teaspoons with the serving supplies rather than packing them with the food.
For drinks, plan roughly 2 to 3 drinks per person for the first hour, then 1 drink per person per hour. Add water jugs and allow at least one drinking glass per guest, plus 10% spare.
For coffee after the meal, prepare at least 1 cup per guest and keep coffee makers, cups, teaspoons and 1 to 2 thermos flasks together. A second coffee maker is useful when more than 30 guests are expected.
Buy or borrow about 10% more plates, glasses and cutlery than the confirmed guest count. This covers breakage, dropped items and the extra place settings needed while used dishes are being cleared.
Set aside a separate box for the memory table: photo frames, collected photographs, table decorations and any printed programme or name cards. Test the speaker and microphone, and bring extension leads at least one day before the party.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and glasses do I need for a 100th birthday party?: For a seated meal, provide one dinner plate, one dessert plate and one drinking glass per guest, plus 10% spare. For 40 guests, that means at least 44 of each type; add wine glasses only if wine is being served.
How much food and drink should I buy for a 100th birthday?: For a buffet, plan around 500 to 700 grams of savoury food per adult, depending on whether a full meal is served. Allow 2 to 3 drinks per person in the first hour, then 1 per person per hour, with water available throughout.
When should I order a cake for a 100th birthday?: Order the cake at least 7 days before the party, or earlier if it has a custom design or serves a large group. Confirm the size, collection time and storage requirements the day before pickup.
How much coffee do I need for a 100th birthday party?: Plan at least one cup per guest after the meal, plus 10% extra. For 40 guests, prepare coffee for about 44 cups and use 1 to 2 thermos flasks so refills can be served without stopping the programme.

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