What to Buy for a 90th Birthday Celebration

A 90th birthday usually combines a meal or buffet, coffee and cake, drinks, speeches and a photo presentation. This shopping list covers the items you need to serve guests, set up the room and keep the celebration running smoothly. Check your guest count before buying disposable or rented supplies, and confirm dietary requirements before placing the catering order. Arrange collection of the cake and chilled food on the day or the day before, depending on storage space.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 45
Buffet tablesqty 2
Bar stoolsqty 4

Tableware

Dinner Platesqty 50
Pastry platesqty 50
Coffee Cupsqty 50
Drinking glassesqty 60
Wine glassesqty 45
Coffee Spoonsqty 50
Dinner cutleryqty 50
Serving Spoonsqty 8
Serving tongsqty 6

Kitchen

Serving plattersqty 8
Covered serving plattersqty 4
Cutting Boardsqty 3
Chef's Knifeqty 3
Cake Knife
Jugsqty 6
Thermosesqty 4

Equipment

Coffee machineqty 2
Kettleqty 2
Coolersqty 3
Bluetooth Speaker
Extension cordsqty 3
Power Stripsqty 3
Laptop
Projector
Projection screen

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 6
Balloonqty 60
Balloon arch
90 number balloons
Bannersqty 6
Photo Framesqty 12
Photo wall backdrop
Flower arrangementsqty 4
Vasesqty 4
Table numbersqty 6
Welcome sign

Lighting

String Lightsqty 4
LED Candlesqty 20

Cleaning

Trash binsqty 4
Bucketsqty 2
Mopsqty 2
Dustpan and Brushqty 2
Cleaning glovesqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Sweetener - 1 box
- Semi-Skimmed Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liters
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Orange soda - 3 bottles
- Tonic - 2 bottles
- Spa Blue - 8 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Alcohol-free wine - 2 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 liters
- Orange juice - 3 liters
- Ice cubes - 6 bags
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Mini bake-at-home rolls - 40 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 500 grams
- Herb butter - 4 tubs
- Hummus - 4 tubs
- Cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Young cheese - 1.5 kilos
- Smoked ham - 1 kilo
- Smoked Chicken Breast - 750 grams
- Smoked salmon - 500 grams
- Chicken salad - 4 tubs
- Egg salad - 4 tubs
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 1.5 kilos
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Mixed lettuce - 8 bags
- Arugula - 4 bags
- Potato salad - 3 kilos
- Pasta salad - 3 kilos
- Raw vegetable salad - 2.5 kilos
- Chicken drumsticks - 3 kilos
- Mini quiches - 40 pieces
- Meatballs - 2 kilos
- Vegetarian snacks - 40 pieces
- Paprika chips - 3 bags
- Plain chips - 3 bags
- Salted nuts - 1 kilo
- Grapes - 2 kilos
- Strawberries - 1.5 kilos
- Mandarins - 2 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Dressing - 3 bottles
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Cake - 1 large cake
- Whipped cream - 4 cans
- Vanilla ice cream - 3 liters
- Chocolate - 4 bars
- Napkins - 100 pieces
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 box
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 6 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Storage containers - 12 pieces

Tips

Plan tableware for every guest plus at least 10% extra. For 30 guests, that means 33 dinner plates, dessert plates, cups and sets of cutlery.
Buy or prepare drinks for the whole programme, not just the meal. As a starting point, allow 2–3 drinks per person during the first hour, then 1–2 per hour, with water available throughout.
Do not leave the coffee station until the last minute. For 30 guests, have enough coffee cups, teaspoons, milk, sugar and hot-water capacity for at least two rounds after the cake.
Check the serving equipment against the menu before shopping. A buffet with several dishes needs serving spoons and tongs, covered serving dishes for food prepared ahead, and a sharp knife and board for bread or garnishes.
Test the presentation setup before guests arrive, including the laptop, projector, screen, speaker, extension cables and power strips. Keep the photos and speeches available offline so the programme does not depend on an internet connection.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and glasses do I need for a 90th birthday?: Allow one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one coffee cup, one drinking glass and one wine glass per guest, then add about 10% extra. For 30 guests, prepare 33 of each item where possible.
How much food and drink should I buy for a 90th birthday?: Base the food order on the confirmed guest count and dietary requirements. For drinks, start with 2–3 per person in the first hour and 1–2 per person for each additional hour, including non-alcoholic options and water.
When should I buy the cake for a 90th birthday?: Order the cake as soon as the guest number and serving time are confirmed, preferably at least 1–2 weeks ahead. Collect it on the day or the day before only if you have enough chilled storage.
What equipment do I need for a birthday photo presentation?: You need a laptop, projector, projection screen, speaker, extension cables and power strips. Test the complete setup at least 24 hours beforehand and keep a copy of the presentation on a USB drive.

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