What to buy for an anniversary reception

An anniversary reception needs more than food and drinks. Plan the quantities for the guest list, then check how everything will be served, kept cool and cleared away. Glasses, cake plates, serving utensils and coffee equipment are often forgotten until setup has already started. This shopping list also covers furniture, lighting, decorations and practical items such as a guest book, coat racks and power strips.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tall cocktail tablesqty 8
Long tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 50
Coat racksqty 2

Tableware

Wine glassesqty 60
Water glassesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 50
Dinner platesqty 60
Cake platesqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 60
Serving traysqty 12
Pouring jugsqty 6

Kitchen

Serving tongsqty 8
Serving spoonsqty 8
Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef's knifeqty 3
Cake knife

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Bluetooth speakersqty 2
Microphone
Power stripsqty 4

Lighting

String lightsqty 4

Decorations

Balloon archesqty 2
Tableclothsqty 12
Flower arrangementsqty 8
Photo framesqty 6
Guest book
Name card holdersqty 50

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Broom and dustpanqty 2
Mop headsqty 2
Cleaning bucketsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Mini bake-off rolls - 60 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Cream cheese - 1 kilogram
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilogram
- Brie - 1 kilogram
- Smoked salmon - 800 grams
- Back ham - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Pesto - 3 jars
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Strawberries - 2 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Mixed nuts - 1 kilogram
- Olives - 1 kilogram
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salsa - 4 jars
- Mini quiches - 80 pieces
- Mini meatballs - 100 pieces
- Vegetarian puff pastry snacks - 80 pieces
- Satay sauce - 2 jars
- Anniversary cake - 1 cake for 60 people
- Petit fours - 60 pieces
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Tonic - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Pilsner - 72 bottles
- White wine - 10 bottles
- Red wine - 6 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Prosecco - 8 bottles
- Coffee - 2 kilograms
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Ice cubes - 12 kilograms
- Cocktail picks - 500 pieces
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Storage containers - 20 pieces
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Disinfecting wipes - 3 packs
- Toilet cleaner - 2 bottles

Tips

Allow two to three drinks per guest for the first hour, then one drink per person per hour. Add still and sparkling water separately so guests are not relying only on the bar.
Count tableware against the maximum number of guests, not the number you expect to use at once. Have at least one dinner plate, cake plate, glass and cutlery set per guest, plus 10% extra for breakages and replacements.
Plan serving equipment for every food station: provide at least one serving spoon or pair of tongs per dish, and keep a chef’s knife, cutting boards and a cake knife together in the preparation area.
Chill drinks several hours before guests arrive. Coolers, pouring jugs and serving trays should be ready before setup begins, rather than being added during the reception.
Check practical equipment the day before: test the microphone and Bluetooth speakers, count power strips, and confirm that string lights can reach a safe power source. Decorations such as tablecloths, flowers, photo frames and name card holders are easy to overlook.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks do I need for an anniversary reception?: Plan for two to three drinks per guest during the first hour and one drink per guest for each additional hour. Add water for every guest and increase the total if the reception lasts more than three hours.
How much tableware should I buy for an anniversary reception?: Start with one dinner plate, cake plate, glass and cutlery set per guest, then add about 10% extra. For 50 guests, that means at least 55 of each item where practical, including replacements for dropped or dirty pieces.
When should I buy or arrange the reception supplies?: Confirm furniture, equipment and any rented tableware at least two to four weeks before the reception. Buy shelf-stable drinks, decorations and disposable supplies several days ahead, and chill drinks on the day of the event.
What equipment is easy to forget for an anniversary reception?: Common omissions are serving tongs, serving spoons, cake plates, a cake knife, pouring jugs, coat racks and power strips. Check these at least one day before setup, along with the microphone, speakers, coffee machines and kettles.

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