What to buy for an anniversary celebration

A good anniversary celebration shopping list covers more than food and decorations. You may need tableware for the meal and cake, equipment for performances, and enough serving and hot-drink supplies for the full guest list. Check what the venue already provides before buying or hiring anything. Order catering and the cake early, then do the remaining shopping close enough to the event that fresh items stay fresh.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 12
Chairsqty 110
Buffet tablesqty 4
Coat racksqty 3
Clothes hangersqty 120
High tablesqty 6
Tableclothsqty 16
Stage sectionsqty 6

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 120
Dessert platesqty 120
Coffee cupsqty 100
Water glassesqty 120
Wine glassesqty 100
Knivesqty 120
Forksqty 120
Spoonsqty 120

Kitchen

Coffee machinesqty 3
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 6
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 8
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 3
Coolersqty 6

Equipment

Speakersqty 2
Mixer
Microphonesqty 4
Microphone standsqty 4
Speaker standsqty 2
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 8
Cable matsqty 8
Music standsqty 20
Spare batteriesqty 12
Musical instrumentsqty 20
Instrument casesqty 20
Tuning forksqty 2
Metronomesqty 2
Laptop

Decorations

Balloonsqty 150
Balloon ribbonqty 2
Anniversary bannerqty 2
Flower arrangementsqty 8
Table décorqty 12
Photo backdrop
Light curtainsqty 4
Program standsqty 4

Lighting

LED spotlightsqty 6
Atmosphere lightsqty 8
Battery lanternsqty 6
Spare flashlightsqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 8
Trash bag holdersqty 8
Bucketsqty 4
Mopsqty 4
Broom setsqty 3
Dustpan and brushqty 3
Cleaning glovesqty 8

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 kilograms
- Tea - 200 bags
- Decaf coffee - 250 grams
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Sweeteners - 200 pieces
- Semi-skimmed milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Cola - 12 liters
- Cola Zero - 12 liters
- Orange soda - 8 liters
- Iced tea - 8 liters
- Sparkling mineral water - 12 liters
- Still mineral water - 20 liters
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Orange juice - 6 liters
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Pilsner - 96 bottles
- Red wine - 12 bottles
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Bubbles - 6 bottles
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Mini bake-at-home rolls - 120 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- Butter - 1 kilogram
- Herb butter - 1 kilogram
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Brie - 1 kilogram
- Cooked ham - 1,5 kilograms
- Salami - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1.5 kilograms
- Cream cheese - 1 kilogram
- Egg salad - 1 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Celery - 2 heads
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Melons - 4 pieces
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Salted Nuts - 2 kilograms
- Olives - 2 kilograms
- Pickles - 2 jars
- Toast - 12 packs
- Crackers - 8 packs
- Herb cheese - 1 kilogram
- Pesto - 4 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 liter
- Ketchup - 2 liters
- Mustard - 1 liter
- Honey mustard sauce - 1 liter
- Mixed salad - 5 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 6 kilogram
- Potato salad - 5 kilograms
- Baguette sauce - 2 liters
- Vegetarian quiche - 6 pieces
- Mini pizzas - 120 pieces
- Vegetarian wraps - 80 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 120 pieces
- Falafel balls - 100 pieces
- Mixed cheese platter - 4 kilograms
- Bitterballen - 200 pieces
- Vegan bitterballen - 60 pieces
- Samosas - 80 pieces
- Anniversary cake - 100 people
- Whipped cream - 2 liters
- Mini muffins - 120 pieces
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Chocolate - 2 kilogram
- Vanilla ice cream - 5 liters
- Cling film - 3 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 3 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Napkins - 500 pieces
- Coffee filters - 100 pieces
- Stirrers - 300 pieces
- Cocktail sticks - 300 pieces
- Paper straws - 200 pieces
- Disposable cups - 150 pieces
- Disposable containers - 150 pieces
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 3 liters
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 liters
- Toilet cleaner - 2 bottles
- Disinfectant spray - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 20 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 packs

Tips

Count one dinner plate, dessert plate, knife, fork and spoon per guest, then add 10% spare place settings. The same buffer is useful for water glasses, wine glasses and coffee cups.
Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, followed by one drink per person per hour. Add coolers and enough ice or chilling space so drinks are cold when guests arrive.
For a performance, check the speakers, mixer, microphones, microphone stands, speaker stands and extension cords at least 7 days beforehand. Test every cable with the actual instruments before the event.
Allow one buffet table for every 20 to 25 guests if food is served at one station. Keep serving platters, tongs, cutting boards and a chef’s knife at the buffet instead of leaving guests to improvise.
Provide one coat-rack position or hanger per guest during colder weather, and place the coat racks near the entrance before doors open. Pick up the cake early enough to allow at least 60 minutes for safe transport and setup.

Frequently asked questions

How much tableware do I need for an anniversary celebration?: Plan one dinner plate, dessert plate, knife, fork, spoon, water glass, wine glass and coffee cup per guest, plus 10% spare. For 50 guests, that means 55 of each item where appropriate.
How many drinks should I buy for an anniversary celebration?: Budget two to three drinks per person during the first hour and one drink per person for each later hour. For 50 guests over 4 hours, plan roughly 250 to 300 drinks, adjusting for children, non-drinkers and coffee service.
When should I order the catering and anniversary cake?: Confirm the catering at least 2 to 4 weeks before the celebration, once registrations and dietary requirements are clear. Arrange the cake at least 1 week ahead and schedule pickup with enough time for 60 minutes of setup.
When should I check the sound equipment for the anniversary celebration?: Test the speakers, mixer, microphones, stands and extension cords at least 7 days before the event. Do a second sound check when the venue is set up, ideally 2 to 3 hours before guests arrive.

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