What you need for an anniversary high tea

An anniversary high tea needs more than sandwiches and cake. Plan food by course, then check that you have enough cups, teapots, serving pieces and chilled storage for the full guest list. Tea and coffee equipment can become a bottleneck, especially when everyone sits down at once. This shopping list also helps you catch easy-to-miss items such as allergen cards, cake forks, name badges and containers with lids before shopping day.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 45
Buffet tablesqty 2
Coat racksqty 2

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 50
Cake platesqty 50
Cupsqty 50
Teapotsqty 8
Water glassesqty 50
Wine glassesqty 45
Teaspoonsqty 50
Cake forksqty 50
Dinner forksqty 50
Dinner knivesqty 50
Serving utensilsqty 12

Kitchen

Tiered traysqty 10
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving trays with lidsqty 4
Serving traysqty 8
Bread knivesqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 2
Mixing bowlsqty 4
Cake standqty 2
Cake knivesqty 2

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 2
Hot water dispensersqty 2
Coolersqty 3
Hot traysqty 4

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 8
Napkinsqty 100
Name badgesqty 45
Table decorationsqty 6
Flower arrangementsqty 6
Anniversary banner
Balloonsqty 40

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Washing-up tubsqty 3
Spongesqty 6
Dish brushesqty 3
Floor squeegeesqty 2
Bucketsqty 3

Groceries

Groceries
- White sandwich loaves - 8 loaves
- Whole wheat casinobread - 6 loaves
- Cream cheese - 2 kilograms
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Smoked salmon - 1.5 kilogram
- Back ham - 1,5 kilogram
- Chicken breast slices - 1 kilogram
- Egg salad - 1 kilogram
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Red onion - 4 pieces
- Dill - 4 bunches
- Lemons - 10 pieces
- Mayonnaise - 1 jar
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Scones - 60 pieces
- Strawberry jam - 3 jars
- Clotted cream - 2 kilogram
- Unsalted butter - 1 kilogram
- Wheat flour - 2 kilogram
- Granulated sugar - 1 kilogram
- Baking powder - 2 sachets
- Eggs - 30 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 1.5 kilograms
- Whipped cream - 2 liters
- Dark chocolate - 500 grams
- Vanilla sugar - 4 sachets
- Mini quiches - 60 pieces
- Savory puff pastry bites - 60 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Strawberries - 2 kilograms
- Blueberries - 1 kilogram
- Melons - 3 pieces
- Petit fours - 50 pieces
- Chocolate truffles - 1 kilogram
- Anniversary cake - 1 cake for 50 people
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Green tea - 1 box
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Semi-skimmed milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Granulated sugar - 1 kilogram
- Sweetener - 1 box
- Still mineral water - 12 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 12 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Orange juice - 6 liters
- Ginger beer - 6 bottles
- Ice cubes - 8 kilograms
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 grinder
- Spice mix - 2 jars
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Napkins - 100 pieces
- Disposable gloves - 1 box
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 box
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles

Tips

Plan around 4–6 savoury pieces, 2–3 scones and 2–3 sweet portions per guest. Add about 10% extra for popular fillings and unexpected guests.
Allow 2–3 cups of tea or coffee per person over a two-hour high tea. Have at least one teapot or hot-water source for every 8–10 guests so serving does not stall.
Count tableware against the final guest list, then add 10% spare pieces. Check dinner plates, cake plates, cups, teaspoons, cake forks and serving utensils separately.
Keep cakes, fillings, fruit and other chilled items cold until serving. Arrange coolers or another cold-storage option before shopping, rather than trying to fit everything in a domestic refrigerator at the last minute.
Buy or prepare allergen cards and name badges before the food is laid out. Mark dietary options clearly and use separate serving utensils to avoid mixing them with the main dishes.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for an anniversary high tea?: Plan for 4–6 savoury pieces, 2–3 scones and 2–3 sweet portions per guest. Add roughly 10% extra, especially when the high tea replaces lunch.
How many cups and plates do I need for a high tea?: Provide one cup, dinner plate and cake plate per guest, plus at least 10% spare. For 30 guests, that means 33 of each item before allowing for washing or breakage.
How much tea should I buy for an anniversary high tea?: Allow 2–3 cups per person for a two-hour event. For 30 guests, prepare for about 60–90 cups and include several tea options if guests have different preferences.
When should I buy cakes, fruit and sandwich ingredients?: Buy fresh cakes, fruit and sandwich ingredients 1–2 days before the event, following the supplier’s storage advice. Prepare sandwiches as close to serving as practical, while keeping fillings and finished items chilled.

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.