What you need for a 40th anniversary celebration
A 40th anniversary celebration needs more than a cake and a few drinks. This shopping list covers the practical items for serving food, welcoming guests, showing photos, playing music and making the room feel festive. Plan quantities around your guest count, then check what you already have before shopping. Tableware, cooling space, serving utensils and extension cords are easy to overlook and often take longer to arrange than expected.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Tablesqty 6
- Chairsqty 50
- Buffet tablesqty 2
- Tablecloth tablesqty 6
- High tablesqty 3
Tableware
- Dinner platesqty 50
- Pastry platesqty 50
- Coffee cupsqty 40
- Water glassesqty 60
- Wine glassesqty 50
- Cutlery setsqty 55
- Serving plattersqty 12
Kitchen
- Serving utensilsqty 12
- Cutting boardsqty 4
- Kitchen knivesqty 4
- Thermos flasksqty 4
- Cake knife
Equipment
- Coolersqty 3
- Coffee machinesqty 2
- Kettlesqty 2
- Speakersqty 2
- Laptop
- Projector
- Extension cordsqty 3
Lighting
- String lightsqty 4
- LED lampsqty 6
Decorations
- Balloonsqty 50
- Balloon arch
- Buntingqty 6
- Table decorationsqty 8
- Numbers 40
- Photo framesqty 10
- Name badgesqty 50
- Greeting card box
Cleaning
- Waste binsqty 3
- Trash bag holdersqty 3
- Cleaning bucketsqty 2
- Mopsqty 2
Catering
- Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Mints - 1 box
- Semi-skimmed milk - 6 liters
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Ice tea - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Orange juice - 3 cartons
- Pilsener - 6 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 2 six-packs
- Red wine - 6 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Rosé - 4 bottles
- Prosecco - 4 bottles
- Lemons - 2 kilos
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Red onions - 1 kilo
- Arugula - 6 bags
- Mixed lettuce - 6 heads
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Olives - 4 jars
- Feta - 1 kilo
- Pasta salad - 4 kilo
- Potato salad - 4 kilos
- Baguettes - 10 pieces
- Herb butter - 6 tubs
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Brie - 1 kilo
- Serano ham - 1 kilo
- Vegetarian meatballs - 3 kilos
- Meatballs - 3 kilos
- Mini quiches - 60 pieces
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salsa - 4 jars
- Salted nuts - 2 kilos
- Salty sticks - 4 bags
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Strawberries - 2 kilos
- Apples - 3 kilos
- Anniversary cake - 1 cake for 50 people
- Petit fours - 50 pieces
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Parchment paper - 1 roll
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Liquid hand soap - 3 bottles
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 box
- Cleaning spray - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 10 pieces
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
Tips
- Allow at least one dinner plate, one pastry plate, one coffee cup and one cutlery set per guest, plus 10% extra for breakages, spills or second servings.
- For drinks, plan two to three servings per person for the first hour, then about one serving per person for each additional hour. Chill drinks several hours before guests arrive and keep extra bottles in coolers.
- Order the anniversary cake early enough to confirm the size, design and dietary requirements. Collect it together with pastries close to the event so the cake stays fresh.
- Set aside enough serving platters and utensils for every buffet dish, plus separate cutting boards and kitchen knives for preparation. A cake knife should be ready before the cake is brought out.
- Test the laptop, projector, speakers, music and lighting at least one day beforehand. Count extension cords and check that the presentation works from the exact position where guests will watch it.
Frequently asked questions
- How much food do I need for a 40th anniversary party?
- For a buffet, plan roughly 500–700 grams of food per adult, including salads, snacks and the main dishes. Add 10% extra when guests will be eating for several hours or when there is no meal before the celebration.
- How many drinks should I buy for a 40th anniversary?
- Plan two to three drinks per person during the first hour and one drink per person for every hour after that. Include water as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, and chill the first batch at least 3–4 hours before arrival.
- How many plates and glasses do I need per guest?
- Provide one dinner plate, one pastry plate, one water glass, one wine glass and one cutlery set per guest, with at least 10% extra. For 40 guests, that means preparing about 44 of each frequently used item.
- When should I buy decorations and party equipment?
- Buy decorations, tableware and equipment at least one week before the anniversary so missing items can still be replaced. Test the projector, speakers, laptop, lighting and extension cords no later than the day before.
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