Anniversary lunch shopping list

An anniversary lunch needs more than food on a table. Plan for the full meal service: soup, bread and pastries, salads, sandwiches, spreads, drinks and coffee, plus enough plates, bowls, glasses and serving utensils for every guest. Check dietary requirements before buying fresh ingredients, and confirm the final guest count early enough to adjust catering and quantities. This list also covers the practical items that are easy to overlook, such as coolers, power strips, name badges and tablecloths.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Buffet tablesqty 3
Dining tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 45
Tableclothsqty 6

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 50
Dessert platesqty 50
Soup bowlsqty 50
Coffee cupsqty 50
Water glassesqty 50
Wine glassesqty 50
Coffee spoonsqty 50
Forksqty 50
Knivesqty 50
Serving spoonsqty 10

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Serving plattersqty 10
Serving tongsqty 6
Soup bowls for buffetqty 2

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Hot boxesqty 4
Coolersqty 3
Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3

Decorations

Balloonsqty 40
Balloon arch
Table decorationsqty 6
Name badgesqty 45
Anniversary number decoration
Vasesqty 6

Lighting

String lightsqty 3

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Bucketsqty 2
Cleaning spongesqty 6
Dish brushesqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- White and brown rolls - 50 pieces
- Multigrain bread - 6 loaves
- Croissants - 45 pieces
- Butter - 1.5 kilos
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Brie - 1.5 kilos
- Goat cheese - 1 kilo
- Back ham - 1.5 kilos
- Smoked chicken breast - 1,5 kilo
- Smoked salmon - 1 kilo
- Hummus - 1 kilo
- Cream cheese - 1 kilo
- Egg salad - 1 kilo
- Herb butter - 750 grams
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Mixed salad - 1.5 kilos
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Red onions - 6 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Celery - 2 bunches
- Potatoes - 4 kilo
- Leek - 1 kilo
- Onions - 1 kilo
- Garlic - 3 bulbs
- Vegetable broth - 3 liters
- Herb cream cheese - 500 grams
- Cooking cream - 2 liters
- Olive oil - 1 liter
- Balsamic vinegar - 500 milliliters
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Pesto - 3 jars
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Fresh parsley - 3 bunches
- Fresh basil - 3 bunches
- Mixed nuts - 750 grams
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Apples - 3 kilos
- Berry mix - 1.5 kilos
- Strawberries - 2 kilos
- Mini pastries - 50 pieces
- Anniversary cake - 1 cake for 50 people
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Sweetener - 1 box
- Still mineral water - 12 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 12 bottles
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Orange juice - 4 liters
- Non-alcoholic prosecco - 6 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Rosé - 4 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 bottles
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Ice cubes - 10 kilos
- Napkins - 100 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Disinfectant wipes - 2 packs
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Freezer bags - 1 box

Tips

Buy or reserve tableware for the confirmed guest count, then add roughly 10% extra plates, cups and glasses for breakage, seconds and unexpected guests.
Plan drinks by service period: allow about two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person per hour, plus water throughout the lunch.
Buy non-perishable items first, including napkins, coffee supplies, decorations and serving equipment. Leave bread, pastries, salads and other fresh groceries until one or two days before the lunch.
Check the buffet setup before shopping for food containers and utensils. Soup needs bowls and ladles, while salads, sandwiches and spreads need separate platters, tongs or serving spoons.
Test coffee machines, kettles, the Bluetooth speaker and extension cords at least one day beforehand. Bring enough power strips and keep cables away from serving and walking areas.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for an anniversary lunch?: For a buffet lunch, plan about 500 to 700 grams of food per adult across soup, bread or pastries, salads, sandwiches and spreads. Add 10% if guests are likely to stay for several hours or if there are few alternative dishes.
How many plates and glasses do I need for an anniversary lunch?: Provide one dinner plate, one dessert plate and one soup bowl per guest, plus around 10% extra. For drinks, allow one water glass and one wine glass per guest, with additional glasses if the meal includes several wine options.
When should I buy groceries for an anniversary lunch?: Buy non-perishable groceries and drinks up to one week ahead. Buy fresh bread, pastries, salads and other chilled ingredients one or two days before the lunch, then chill drinks the day before.
What do people often forget for an anniversary lunch?: Commonly missed items include serving spoons, tongs, coffee spoons, cutting boards, name badges, tablecloths and enough coolers. Check power strips and extension cords at least one day before setup, especially if coffee machines and kettles use the same area.

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