What to Buy for a Beach Wedding

A beach wedding needs more than flowers and a cake. You also need to plan for wind, sand, heat and limited access to water, power and toilets. Use this shopping list to organise seating, shelter, tableware, drinks, food and ceremony details before anything is transported to the beach. Confirm the guest count first, then buy or hire quantities with a small buffer so missing glasses or napkins do not become a last-minute problem.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentqty 2
Benchesqty 4
Chairsqty 90
Round tablesqty 10
Buffet tablesqty 4
Gift table
Cake table
Stoolsqty 8

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 100
Dessert platesqty 100
Coffee cupsqty 90
Water glassesqty 100
Wine glassesqty 100
Champagne glassesqty 90
Forksqty 100
Knivesqty 100
Spoonsqty 100
Coffee spoonsqty 90
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving spoonsqty 12
Cake knife
Carafesqty 12

Decorations

Ceremony arch
Arch backdrop
Flower arrangementsqty 12
Table runnersqty 10
Cloth napkinsqty 100
Name badgesqty 90
Menusqty 12
Welcome sign
Table numbersqty 10
Candlesqty 40
Lanternsqty 20
Balloonsqty 80
Ribbonsqty 10
Guest book
Ring box
Gift box

Equipment

Battery-powered speakersqty 2
Wireless microphonesqty 2
Music player
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Power banksqty 4
Coolersqty 6
Ice cube traysqty 6

Lighting

String lightsqty 8
LED lampsqty 12
Battery lanternsqty 8

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef's knifeqty 4
Serving tongsqty 8
Thermos flasksqty 6
Food warmersqty 6
Bottle openersqty 4
Ice packsqty 24
Aluminum foilqty 3
Cling filmqty 3

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Trash bag holdersqty 6
Hand broomsqty 3
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Bucketsqty 4
Spongesqty 12
Microfiber clothsqty 12
Washing-up bowlsqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- Spa Blauw - 120 bottles
- Spa Red - 24 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Tonic - 6 bottles
- Ginger ale - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Orange juice - 8 packs
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Pilsner - 96 bottles
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- Rosé - 8 bottles
- Prosecco - 12 bottles
- Beer crates - 4 crates
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 1 box
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Sweetener - 1 box
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Limes - 12 pieces
- Ice cubes - 30 bags
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Ciabatta - 8 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Garlic - 4 bulbs
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Arugula - 8 bags
- Mixed salad - 10 bags
- Red onions - 2 kilos
- Avocados - 12 pieces
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Strawberries - 4 kilos
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Melons - 4 pieces
- Hummus - 2 kilos
- Cream cheese - 1 kilo
- Goat cheese - 1 kilo
- Brie - 1 kilo
- Aged cheese - 2 kilo
- Parmesan cheese - 500 grams
- Mozzarella - 1 kilo
- Salami - 1 kilo
- Dry-cured ham - 1 kilo
- Smoked salmon - 1 kilo
- Chicken breast - 6 kilo
- Vegetarian burgers - 20 pieces
- Burger buns - 100 pieces
- Potato salad - 6 kilos
- Pasta salad - 6 kilos
- Couscous salad - 5 kilos
- Rice - 4 kilos
- Pasta - 3 kilos
- Vegetable mix - 6 kilo
- Corn - 12 cans
- Pickles - 4 jars
- Olives - 3 kg
- Mayonnaise - 3 jars
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 2 bottles
- Chili sauce - 2 bottles
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Nut mix - 3 kilo
- Toast - 12 packs
- Crackers - 8 packs
- Wedding cake - 1 cake
- Cupcakes - 100 pieces
- Chocolate - 2 kilos
- Mini wraps - 100 pieces
- Tortilla wraps - 100 pieces
- Herb cheese - 1 kilo
- Vegan spread - 1 kilo
- Gluten-free sandwiches - 12 pieces
- Gluten-free crackers - 3 packs
- Vegan burgers - 12 pieces
- Coconut Yogurt - 2 liters
- Coffee creamer - 2 packs
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 60 pieces
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs
- Toilet cleaner - 2 bottles
- Paper towels - 6 packs
- Food storage containers - 20 pieces
- Aluminium trays - 30 pieces
- Napkin clips - 100 pieces

Tips

Plan seating and tableware for every confirmed guest, plus 5–10% extra. That means 84 place settings for 80 guests, including dinner plates, dessert plates, forks, knives, spoons, water glasses and wine glasses.
Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person per hour. Chill the first batch at least 6 hours before the ceremony and keep a separate supply of water in carafes.
Bring 10–15% more napkins, cups and serving utensils than the guest count suggests. Sand, wind and dropped items make cloth napkins, coffee spoons and serving spoons disappear faster than expected.
Secure the ceremony arch, backdrop, table runners and welcome sign before loading the car. Pack weights, ties or other fixing supplies separately; beach wind can make lightweight decorations unusable within minutes.
Order the cake, flowers and any hired furniture at least 2–4 weeks ahead, then reconfirm delivery 48 hours before the event. Check the weather and beach conditions on the morning itself before transporting the cake table, buffet tables and tents.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to buy for a beach wedding?: Plan drinks, snacks, cake, flowers, tableware, seating, tables, shelter and ceremony decorations. For tableware, count one full place setting per guest and add 5–10% extra; include water and non-alcoholic drinks for the full event.
How much food and drink do I need for a beach wedding?: Allow two to three drinks per person in the first hour and one per person per hour after that. For snacks, plan roughly 150–250 grams per guest if they are served before the meal, and keep at least 500 ml of water per guest readily available.
How many chairs and tables do I need for a beach wedding?: Provide one chair or bench place for every seated guest, plus 5% spare seating where space allows. Choose the number of round tables from your confirmed layout; leave at least 90 cm between tables and walkways for comfortable movement.
When should I order beach wedding supplies?: Order or reserve hired furniture, tents, tableware, flowers and the cake 2–4 weeks before the wedding. Reconfirm every delivery 48 hours beforehand, and buy fresh food, ice and chilled drinks within 24 hours of the ceremony.

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