What to Buy for a Church Open House
A church open house needs more than coffee and a welcome table. Visitors may arrive in waves, join a tour, attend music or presentations, and bring children with different needs. Use this shopping list to cover refreshments, tableware, signs, name badges, sound and projection equipment, and practical setup supplies. Check what the church already owns before buying anything, especially coffee pots, cups, chairs, extension cords and cleaning supplies.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Tablesqty 12
- Chairsqty 100
- Coat racksqty 2
- Foldable tablesqty 4
- Tableclothsqty 12
Tableware
- Coffee cupsqty 80
- Glassesqty 100
- Platesqty 100
- Cutlery setsqty 100
- Serving plattersqty 12
- Coffee potsqty 6
- Teapotsqty 4
Equipment
- Coffee machinesqty 3
- Kettlesqty 3
- Coolersqty 4
- Microphonesqty 2
- Speakersqty 2
- Extension cordsqty 6
- Power stripsqty 6
- Laptop
- Projector
Decorations
- Balloonsqty 100
- Buntingqty 12
- Flower arrangementsqty 6
- Name badgesqty 120
- Table numbersqty 12
- Chalkboardsqty 6
- Chalk markersqty 12
Catering
- Coffee potsqty 6
- Thermos flasksqty 6
- Groceries
- Coffee - 6 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Hot chocolate - 3 packs
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Sweeteners - 2 boxes
- Semi-skimmed milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Bitter lemon - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Orange juice - 8 packs
- Spa Blauw - 10 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Apples - 8 kilograms
- Bananas - 6 kilograms
- Grapes - 5 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 5 kilo
- Carrots - 4 kilograms
- Peppers - 3 kilograms
- Hummus - 2 kilograms
- Cream cheese - 1 kilogram
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Brie - 1 kilogram
- Ham - 1 kilogram
- Chicken breast slices - 1 kilogram
- Vegetarian spread - 1 kilogram
- Whole wheat bread - 12 loaves
- White rolls - 120 pieces
- Wraps - 80 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilogram
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Pesto - 4 jars
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Vegetable soup - 10 liters
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Butter cookies - 8 packs
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Snacks - 5 bags
- Mini muffins - 150 pieces
- Brownies - 100 pieces
- Vegan cookies - 6 packs
- Gluten-free crackers - 4 packs
- Aluminum trays - 100 pieces
- Napkins - 500 pieces
- Paper cups - 200 pieces
- Paper plates - 200 pieces
- Wooden stirrers - 250 pieces
- Sugar packets - 300 pieces
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Organic waste bags - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 bottles
- Toilet cleaner - 3 bottles
- Disinfectant spray - 3 bottles
Kitchen
- Cutting boardsqty 4
- Kitchen knivesqty 6
- Serving spoonsqty 8
- Serving tongsqty 8
- Measuring cupsqty 3
- Aluminum foilqty 2
- Food storage containersqty 12
Children's activities
- Coloring pagesqty 150
- Colored pencilsqty 12
- Markersqty 12
- Apronsqty 10
- Craft scissorsqty 10
- Glue sticksqty 20
- Colored paperqty 10
- Craft stickersqty 10
Lighting
- LED string lightsqty 6
- LED lampsqty 8
Cleaning
- Broomqty 3
- Vacuum cleanerqty 2
- Mopsqty 3
- Bucketsqty 3
- Cleaning clothsqty 20
- Hand broomsqty 3
- Toilet brushesqty 3
Information
- Information boardsqty 8
- Pensqty 30
- Clipboardsqty 6
- Tapeqty 6
- Writing paperqty 500
- Arrow stickersqty 40
Tips
- Plan refreshments around your registration numbers and arrival pattern. For the first hour, allow two to three drinks per person, then add extra coffee, tea and chilled drinks for later arrivals.
- Count tableware by the busiest seating period, not by the total guest list. Keep at least one complete cup, glass, plate and cutlery set per expected seated visitor, plus 10% spare.
- Do not leave visitor information until the day before. Prepare information boards, chalkboards, table numbers and name badges at least 3 days ahead so missing details can still be corrected.
- Check audio and presentation equipment in the actual rooms 2 to 3 days before the open house. Test microphones, speakers, the laptop, projector, extension cords and power strips together rather than separately.
- Buy or prepare food only after collecting dietary requirements. Label allergens before refreshments are served, and keep chilled products cold until setup; move them into coolers or serving areas shortly before guests arrive.
Frequently asked questions
- What should I buy for a church open house?
- Plan for refreshments, coffee and tea service, chilled drinks, snacks, tableware, serving platters, signs, name badges and children's activities. You may also need microphones, speakers, a laptop, a projector, extension cords and power strips for the program.
- How many cups and plates do I need for a church open house?
- Start with one cup, glass, plate and cutlery set per expected seated visitor, then add 10% spare. If 80 people may sit at once, prepare at least 88 of each item where practical.
- How much coffee and tea should I prepare for a church open house?
- Allow two to three drinks per person during the first hour, including coffee, tea and other drinks. For 60 visitors, that means planning for roughly 120 to 180 servings initially, with extra capacity if arrivals are spread across several hours.
- When should I buy food and chill drinks for a church open house?
- Buy shelf-stable items several days in advance and purchase refrigerated products as close to the event as practical. Check chilled products on the day, then chill drinks before guests arrive and prepare allergen information before serving.
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