Birthday dinner shopping list

Planning a birthday dinner means more than buying the ingredients for the menu. You also need enough plates, glasses, serving dishes and equipment for every course, plus drinks, coffee and cake. Confirm the final guest count before shopping, then check dietary requirements against the menu and quantities. This list helps you prepare the items guests notice first—and the small things, such as bottle openers and teaspoons, that are often forgotten until serving starts.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 4
Chairsqty 32
Tableclothsqty 4

Tableware

Dinner Platesqty 36
Deep platesqty 36
Dessert platesqty 36
Water glassesqty 36
Wine glassesqty 36
Coffee Cupsqty 36
Forksqty 36
Knivesqty 36
Spoonsqty 36
Teaspoonsqty 36

Kitchen

Serving plattersqty 8
Salad serving bowlsqty 3
Soup spoonsqty 3
Serving utensilsqty 6
Cutting Boardsqty 3
Chef's Knifeqty 3
Measuring cupsqty 2
Mixing bowlsqty 4
Pansqty 4
Baking dishesqty 3
Corkscrewqty 2
Bottle openersqty 2

Equipment

Coolersqty 3
Coffee machine
Kettle
Wireless speaker

Decorations

Balloonqty 40
Bannersqty 4
Napkin holdersqty 4
Vasesqty 6

Lighting

String lightsqty 3

Cleaning

Dishwashing tubsqty 2
Trash binsqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- Baguettes - 4 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 500 grams
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 canister
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Garlic - 3 bulbs
- Onions - 2 kilos
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Cucumbers - 5 pieces
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Mixed lettuce - 1 kilo
- Parmesan cheese - 500 grams
- Feta cheese - 500 grams
- Pine nuts - 250 grams
- Pasta - 3 kilos
- Passata - 5 liters
- Tomato paste - 4 cans
- Ground beef - 2.5 kilos
- Zucchini - 6 pieces
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Mushrooms - 1.5 kilos
- Cooking cream - 2 liters
- Vegetarian meatballs - 1.5 kilos
- Vanilla ice cream - 3 liters
- Strawberries - 2 kilos
- Whipped cream - 1 liter
- Birthday cake - 1 large cake
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Milk - 4 liters
- Mineral water - 12 bottles
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 3 bottles
- Orange soda - 3 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 cartons
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Red Wine - 6 bottles
- Beer - 3 crates
- Alcohol-free wine - 2 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 bottles
- Paprika chips - 3 bags
- Plain chips - 3 bags
- Olives - 3 jars
- Mixed nuts - 1 kilo
- Mayonnaise - 1 jar
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Dish soap - 1 bottle
- All-purpose cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 4 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 6 pieces

Tips

Count tableware by guest, then add 2–3 spare place settings. For a multi-course dinner, check that you have enough dinner plates, deep plates, dessert plates, forks, knives, spoons and teaspoons.
Plan drinks by time rather than by bottle. Allow roughly 2–3 drinks per person during the first hour, then about 1 drink per person per hour, and keep water available throughout dinner.
Check serving equipment before cooking day. Each course needs a suitable serving dish or bowl and serving utensils; soups and salads commonly need separate ladles or salad servers.
Put chilled drinks in the coolers at least 3 hours before guests arrive. Chill wine and other bottles early, because a full refrigerator usually cannot cool everything quickly.
Set aside coffee and cake equipment before dinner begins. The coffee maker, kettle, coffee cups and teaspoons are easy to overlook when the kitchen is occupied with pans, cutting boards and oven dishes.

Frequently asked questions

How much tableware do I need for a birthday dinner?: Plan one complete place setting per guest, plus 2–3 spare settings. For a three-course dinner, that means dinner plates, deep plates, dessert plates, forks, knives and spoons, along with one water glass and one wine glass per person.
How many drinks should I buy for a birthday dinner?: Allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then about 1 drink per person for each additional hour. Add water for the entire dinner and include non-alcoholic options based on the confirmed guest list.
When should I chill drinks for a birthday dinner?: Put bottles and other drinks in the refrigerator or coolers at least 3 hours before guests arrive. If you are serving a large group, use more than one cooler so drinks stay cold while guests help themselves.
How many serving dishes do I need for a birthday dinner?: Prepare at least one serving dish or bowl for each course, plus separate dishes for salad and dessert if they are served independently. Check this at least 1 day before the dinner, together with serving spoons, salad servers and soup ladles.

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