What to Buy for an Anniversary Gala

An anniversary gala needs more than dinner plates and a cake. You also need enough glasses for the welcome drink, wine and water, plus serving equipment that keeps the buffet moving. Use your final guest list to set quantities, then add a small buffer for breakages, seconds and late changes. Check what the venue already provides before buying or hiring furniture, coffee equipment, coolers and tableware.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

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

Furniture

Rectangular tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 70
Buffet tablesqty 3
Foldable tablesqty 2
Coat racksqty 2
High tablesqty 6

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 75
Dessert platesqty 75
Coffee cupsqty 70
Water glassesqty 75
Wine glassesqty 75
Champagne glassesqty 70
Coffee spoonsqty 70
Dinner knivesqty 75
Dinner forksqty 75
Cake forksqty 75
Serving spoonsqty 12
Serving tongsqty 8

Kitchen

Coffee potqty 3
Teapotsqty 3
Serving traysqty 8
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 3
Cake serverqty 2
Food warmersqty 6
Serving plattersqty 12
Food containersqty 12

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Wireless microphonesqty 2
Speakersqty 2
Laptop
Projector
Projector screen
Power stripsqty 6
Extension cordsqty 6
Chargersqty 4

Decorations

Table runnersqty 8
Cloth napkinsqty 75
Vasesqty 10
Flower arrangementsqty 10
Balloonsqty 80
Balloon ribbonqty 2
Anniversary banner
Photo framesqty 12
Confettiqty 4

Lighting

String lightsqty 6
Table lampsqty 10
Spare batteriesqty 24

Cleaning

Vacuum cleaner
Mopqty 2
Bucketsqty 2
Cleaning glovesqty 6
Microfiber clothsqty 12
Waste binsqty 6
Toilet brushesqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Sweetener - 1 box
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Whipped cream - 4 cans
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Tonic - 4 bottles
- Ginger ale - 3 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 5 cartons
- Beer - 72 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Prosecco - 10 bottles
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- Rosé - 4 bottles
- Bitter lemon - 3 bottles
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Limes - 12 pieces
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Mineral water for coffee - 6 liters
- Toast - 6 packs
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 4 loaves
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Herb butter - 6 tubs
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilo
- Brie - 1 kilo
- Cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Smoked salmon - 1 kilo
- Cranberry sauce - 3 jars
- Olives - 4 jars
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Pears - 20 pieces
- Strawberries - 2 kilos
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Mixed salad - 2 kilos
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Red onions - 1 kilo
- Potatoes - 8 kilos
- Rice - 4 kilos
- Pasta - 3 kilos
- Chicken breast - 6 kilo
- Vegetarian burgers - 20 pieces
- Salmon fillet - 4 kilos
- Vegetable burgers - 20 pieces
- Mixed vegetables - 5 kilos
- Mushrooms - 2 kilos
- Cooking cream - 3 liters
- Tomato sauce - 6 jars
- Pesto - 4 jars
- Mayonnaise - 3 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 2 liters
- Sunflower oil - 1 liter
- Salt - 500 grams
- Black pepper - 250 grams
- Italian herbs - 2 jars
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Garlic - 6 bulbs
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Apple cider vinegar - 1 bottle
- Mixed nuts - 2 kilos
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Salty sticks - 4 bags
- Cookies - 5 packs
- Chocolate - 2 kilos
- Anniversary cake - 1 piece for 70 people
- Small pastries - 70 pieces
- Napkin packs - 4 packs
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Parchment paper - 1 roll
- Storage containers - 30 pieces
- Cocktail sticks - 2 boxes
- Straws - 100 pieces
- Coffee filters - 2 packs
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 pack
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Paper towels - 4 packs
- Disinfectant spray - 2 bottles

Tips

Plan tableware for every confirmed guest, then add 10% extra. Include dinner and dessert plates, forks, knives, coffee cups, teaspoons and serving utensils rather than counting only the main place settings.
Allow at least three glasses per guest if you serve a welcome drink, wine and water. Champagne glasses, wine glasses and water glasses are easy to overlook when the table plan changes late.
For a buffet, provide one serving spoon or pair of tongs per dish, plus two or three serving platters or trays for transfers from the kitchen. Add food warmers if hot dishes will stand out for more than 20 minutes.
Buy or arrange the cake, flowers and drinks no later than 3 to 5 days before the gala. Keep the cake pickup and drink chilling separate from the final room setup so neither is forgotten.
Check quantities against dietary requirements before placing the catering order. Keep food containers, cutting boards, a chef’s knife and a cake server available for leftovers and for cutting the cake safely.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and glasses do I need for an anniversary gala?: Start with one dinner plate, one dessert plate and one complete cutlery set per guest, then add 10% extra. For a welcome drink, wine and water, plan on three glasses per guest, plus a small spare supply.
How much extra tableware should I buy for a gala dinner?: Allow 10% extra for plates, cutlery and glasses. For 50 guests, that means preparing at least 55 of each commonly used item, with additional serving utensils for the buffet.
When should I order the cake and flowers for an anniversary gala?: Place both orders at least 3 to 5 days before the event, or earlier if the supplier requires advance notice. Confirm the cake pickup and flower collection again the day before.
What serving equipment is needed for an anniversary gala buffet?: Provide one serving spoon or pair of tongs for each dish, two or three serving trays or platters for moving food, and food warmers for hot dishes held longer than 20 minutes. Add coolers for drinks that must stay cold before guests arrive.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.