What you need for a Christmas celebration

A Christmas celebration needs more than food and presents. This shopping list covers the practical items that are easy to miss, from enough plates and glasses to serving equipment, coffee supplies and extension cords for the lights. Use your final guest count to calculate quantities, then check what the venue already provides before shopping. Plan chilled drinks, buffet service and table decorations together so setup does not become a last-minute task.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 70
Buffet tablesqty 3
Clothes racksqty 2

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 70
Dessert platesqty 70
Coffee cupsqty 70
Water glassesqty 70
Wine glassesqty 50
Cutlery setsqty 70
Serving spoonsqty 12

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 6
Mixing bowlsqty 4
Serving plattersqty 10
Serving trays with lidsqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 6
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 4

Equipment

Speakersqty 2
Microphonesqty 2
Extension cordsqty 4

Decorations

Christmas tree
Christmas baublesqty 60
Buntingqty 10
Christmas wreathsqty 3
Table runnersqty 8
Christmas napkin holdersqty 8

Lighting

LED light stringsqty 6
LED candlesqty 30

Catering

Groceries
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Herb butter - 6 tubs
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Brie - 1,5 kilogram
- Gouda cheese - 1.5 kilogram
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 4 kilograms
- Mandarins - 4 kilogram
- Walnuts - 500 gram
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Snacks - 5 bags
- Olives - 6 jars
- Christmas cookies - 6 packs
- Brownies - 60
- Apple pie - 4 pies
- Vanilla ice cream - 5 liters
- Whipped cream - 12 cans
- Chocolate sauce - 3 bottles
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 3 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Chocolate milk - 8 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 3 cases
- Red wine - 12 bottles
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Bubbles - 6 bottles
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
- Dinner candles - 30 pieces
- Matches - 2 boxes
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Cleaning spray - 2 bottles
- Toilet paper - 36 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles

Tips

Count tableware for every guest, plus at least 10% extra. For 30 guests, that means 33 dinner plates, dessert plates, cutlery sets, water glasses and coffee cups.
Plan drinks by serving point: chill wine and other cold drinks in coolers at least 2 hours before guests arrive, and keep water glasses available throughout the celebration.
Allow one serving spoon or utensil for each buffet dish, then add two serving platters and two trays with lids for food that must be carried or covered.
For coffee and tea after dinner, prepare enough thermos flasks for the first service and check that the coffee machines and kettles can handle the guest count without sharing one appliance.
Check the venue’s power supply before buying or bringing LED light strings, speakers and microphones. Bring extension cords and test the sound and lighting at least 1 hour before arrival.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and glasses do I need for a Christmas celebration?: Plan one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one cutlery set, one water glass and one coffee cup per guest, then add 10% spare. For 30 guests, prepare 33 of each basic item.
How much extra tableware should I buy for Christmas dinner?: Buy or bring 10% more tableware than your confirmed guest count. This covers breakage, dropped cutlery and guests who use a fresh plate for dessert.
When should I chill drinks for a Christmas celebration?: Put drinks in coolers at least 2 hours before guests arrive. If the drinks start at room temperature, allow extra time and avoid filling the coolers so tightly that cold air cannot circulate.
What should I check before setting up Christmas decorations and lighting?: Check the venue, available sockets and cable routes at least 1 day beforehand. On the day, test LED light strings, speakers and microphones at least 1 hour before guests arrive.

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