What to buy for an anniversary ceremony

An anniversary ceremony needs more than food and flowers. You will need enough tableware for the meal, cake and drinks, plus glasses for water, wine and champagne. Plan a separate registration desk, gift table and buffet setup, and check that the sound and projection equipment match the ceremony programme. Use the confirmed guest count to calculate catering and tableware, then buy non-perishable items early and chill drinks on the day before or morning of the event.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 70
Buffet tablesqty 3
Registration desk
Gift table
Stoolsqty 4
Tableclothsqty 12
High tablesqty 6
Clothing rack

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 75
Pastry platesqty 75
Soup bowlsqty 70
Coffee cupsqty 70
Water glassesqty 80
Wine glassesqty 80
Champagne glassesqty 70
Coffee spoonsqty 70
Dinner forksqty 75
Dinner knivesqty 75
Serving spoonsqty 12
Cake serversqty 2
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving trays for snacksqty 8

Equipment

Speakerqty 2
Microphonesqty 2
Microphone stand
Mixer
Laptop
Projector
Projection screen
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Coolersqty 4
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Food warmersqty 3
Ice cube traysqty 3

Decorations

Balloonsqty 100
Balloon standsqty 4
Buntingqty 8
Anniversary banner
Table decorationsqty 12
Flower vasesqty 12
Photo framesqty 10
Photo backdrop
Gift boxesqty 2
Table signsqty 12
Confettiqty 4
Candlesqty 24
Candle holdersqty 12
Ribbonsqty 6
Guest book
Pen setsqty 3

Lighting

String lightsqty 6
LED lanternsqty 8
Table lampsqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 3
Measuring cupsqty 3
Mixing bowlsqty 5
Serving tongsqty 8
Corkscrewsqty 3
Bottle openersqty 3
Thermos flasksqty 4
Drink dispensersqty 3
Cake knife

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Broomqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Mopqty 3
Bucketsqty 3
Cleaning clothsqty 20
Hand broomsqty 4
Hand soap dispensersqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Still water - 48 bottles
- Sparkling water - 24 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Lemonade - 8 liters
- Beer - 120 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Prosecco - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Orange juice - 6 liters
- Coffee beans - 3 kilo
- Tea assortment - 4 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Lemons - 2 kilos
- Ice cubes - 15 kilos
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Mini bake-at-home rolls - 80 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Herb butter - 1 kilo
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Brie - 1.5 kilos
- Ham - 1,5 kilo
- Smoked chicken breast - 1,5 kilo
- Hummus - 1 kilo
- Cream cheese - 1 kilo
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Apples - 4 kilos
- Melons - 3 pieces
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Salted nuts - 4 kilos
- Olives - 2 kilos
- Pickles - 2 jars
- Cheese sticks - 4 packs
- Mini quiches - 100 pieces
- Meatballs - 120 pieces
- Vegetarian snacks - 80 pieces
- Satay sauce - 2 kilos
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Green salad - 5 kilos
- Arugula - 1 kilo
- Red onions - 1 kilo
- Cucumber for salad - 2 kilo
- Cherry tomatoes for salad - 2 kilos
- Feta cheese - 1 kilo
- Pasta salad - 6 kilos
- Potato salad - 6 kilos
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Herb mix - 6 sachets
- Salt - 1 kilo
- Pepper - 250 gram
- Olive oil - 2 liters
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 liter
- Dressing - 2 liter
- Chicken breast - 8 kilos
- Vegetarian burgers - 30 pieces
- Potato croquettes - 6 kilo
- Grilled Vegetables - 6 kilos
- Gravy - 4 liters
- Vegetarian gravy - 2 liters
- Anniversary cake - 1 cake
- Whipped cream - 2 liters
- Petit fours - 80 pieces
- Coffee spoons - 2 packs
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper straws - 100 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Liquid dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 4 bottles
- Air freshener - 2 spray cans
- Aluminum trays - 40 pieces
- Diet meals - 8 pieces
- Food labels - 1 pack

Tips

Count tableware for every confirmed guest, then add 5–10% extra for breakages, spills and seconds. Include dinner plates, pastry plates, soup bowls, forks, knives, coffee cups and spoons.
Plan drinks by serving moment: allow roughly 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then 1–2 per person for each following hour. Buy water separately and chill it with the wine and champagne.
Do not leave the cake service until the last minute. Buy or reserve cake servers, pastry plates and coffee spoons, and check that the number of servings matches the final guest list at least 3 days before the ceremony.
Reserve sound equipment before invitations go out if speeches are part of the programme. Test the speaker, microphones, microphone stand and mixer with the actual laptop at least 1 day before the event.
Prepare the items people often forget at the entrance and gift area: name badges, printed programmes, a registration desk, a gift table and a clothing rack. Put flowers and the anniversary gift on the pickup list no later than 1 day before the ceremony.

Frequently asked questions

How much tableware do I need for an anniversary ceremony?: Start with one complete place setting per confirmed guest and add 5–10% extra. For 80 guests, that means 84–88 dinner plates, forks and knives, plus extra pastry plates, coffee cups and glasses for later servings.
How many drinks should I buy for an anniversary ceremony?: For the first hour, plan 2–3 drinks per person, then 1–2 drinks per person for every additional hour. Include water for the full programme and separate quantities for wine, champagne and coffee.
When should I buy flowers and the anniversary gift?: Arrange the gift and flowers at least 1 day before the ceremony, or earlier if they require collection or delivery. Keep the gift at the designated gift table and store flowers according to the florist’s instructions.
When should I test the sound and projection equipment?: Test the speaker, microphones, mixer, laptop, projector and projection screen at least 1 day before the ceremony. Repeat a short check 60–90 minutes before guests arrive, using the final speeches, presentations and photos.

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