What you need for a Christmas celebration

Use this shopping list to prepare a Christmas celebration without last-minute trips to the store. It covers the practical items around the meal: plates, glasses, cutlery, serving equipment, coffee supplies, decorations and waste collection. Plan quantities from your final guest list, then add a small buffer for breakages, spills and unexpected guests. Fresh produce, chilled drinks and prepared dishes need a separate check shortly before the celebration.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 60
Coat rackqty 2
Waste binsqty 4

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 60
Deep platesqty 60
Dessert platesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 60
Water glassesqty 60
Wine glassesqty 60
Knivesqty 60
Forksqty 60
Spoonsqty 60
Teaspoonsqty 60
Serving spoonsqty 12

Kitchen

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Soup bowlsqty 4
Hot traysqty 4
Serving plattersqty 12
Cutting boardsqty 4
Kitchen knivesqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 2
Coolersqty 4

Decorations

Christmas tree
Christmas baublesqty 40
Christmas garlandsqty 8
Table decorationsqty 8
Christmas wreathsqty 2
Name badgesqty 60
Menusqty 60

Lighting

String lightsqty 6
LED candlesqty 24

Equipment

Speakersqty 2
Microphone
Music player
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4

Catering

Gift bagsqty 60
Giftsqty 60
Groceries
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Hot chocolate - 4 liters
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Sweeteners - 2 boxes
- Semi-skimmed milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Whipped cream - 2 canisters
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Bitter lemon - 3 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Orange juice - 4 liters
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Pilsner - 36 bottles
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- White wine - 4 bottles
- Sparkling wine - 4 bottles
- Ice cubes - 8 kilos
- Nut mix - 2 kilo
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Cheese biscuits - 4 packs
- Snack packs - 4 packs
- Olives - 4 jars
- Cucumber - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Celery - 2 heads
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Vegetable soup - 12 liters
- Soup vegetables - 4 kilos
- Vegetable broth - 2 jars
- Potatoes - 12 kilos
- Brussels sprouts - 8 kilos
- Carrots - 5 kilos
- Red cabbage - 6 kilo
- Vegetarian roulades - 12 pieces
- Turkey roulade - 8 kilos
- Gravy - 6 liters
- Cranberry sauce - 4 jars
- Applesauce - 4 jars
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Salt - 1 pack
- Nutmeg - 1 jar
- Thyme - 1 pot
- Rosemary - 1 pot
- Vanilla custard - 6 liters
- Chocolate mousse - 60 servings
- Christmas loaf - 6 pieces
- Christmas cookies - 6 packs
- Mandarins - 6 kilos
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Lemons - 6 pieces
- Butter cookies - 6 packs
- Napkins - 120 pieces
- Paper straws - 60 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Plastic storage containers - 20 pieces
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 box
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 12 pieces

Tips

Count one dinner plate, deep plate and dessert plate per guest, then add 10% extra. A group of 30 therefore needs 33 of each type, especially if washing up during the meal is not practical.
Allow one water glass and one wine glass per guest, plus 10% spare. Keep extra glasses near the drinks area rather than placing every glass on the table at once.
Plan serving equipment by dish: use soup bowls and serving spoons for soup, platters for Christmas bread and other shared food, and hot trays for dishes that must stay warm. Check these items before shopping day.
Buy or collect decorations at least 3 days ahead, including the Christmas tree, baubles, garlands, wreaths and table decorations. Test the Christmas lights before putting them up so a faulty set does not delay setup.
Set aside one coffee cup, teaspoon and dessert plate per guest, with 10% spare, and check the number of coffee machines and kettles 1 day before. Arrange waste bins and a coat rack before guests arrive, since both are easy to overlook.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and glasses do I need for a Christmas celebration?: Start with one dinner plate, deep plate, dessert plate, water glass and wine glass per guest. Add 10% spare, so 30 guests require 33 of each item; increase this if you will not wash dishes during the event.
When should I buy food and drinks for a Christmas celebration?: Buy shelf-stable food, drinks and decorations 3 to 7 days beforehand. Collect fresh produce 1 to 2 days before, and chill drinks at least 6 hours before guests arrive.
What kitchen equipment is needed for Christmas dinner?: Prepare soup bowls, serving spoons, serving platters, cutting boards, kitchen knives, measuring cups, coolers and hot trays. Check coffee machines and kettles 1 day before, then leave space for food preparation and serving.
How much extra tableware should I buy for Christmas?: Allow 10% extra tableware for breakages, dropped cutlery and unexpected guests. For 20 people, prepare at least 22 plates, glasses and sets of cutlery wherever possible.

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.