What to Buy for an Engagement Dinner

An engagement dinner needs more than food and drinks. You will need enough plates, glasses, cutlery and serving pieces for each course, plus practical equipment for keeping dishes hot and drinks chilled. Plan the quantities from your confirmed guest count, then add a small buffer for breakages, spills and unexpected guests. This list also covers the items people often remember only when guests are already arriving, such as name badges, coffee cups, coat hangers and lighting.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Dining tablesqty 3
Chairsqty 24
Buffet tableqty 2
Clothes hangersqty 2

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 24
Dessert platesqty 24
Soup bowlsqty 24
Water glassesqty 30
Wine glassesqty 30
Champagne glassesqty 24
Cutlery setsqty 24
Coffee cupsqty 24
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving spoonsqty 6

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 5
Napkinsqty 30
Name badgesqty 24
Vasesqty 6
Table décorqty 6
Buntingqty 4

Lighting

LED light stringsqty 4
Table lampsqty 6

Equipment

Bluetooth speaker
Coolersqty 3
Kettlesqty 2

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef's knivesqty 3
Baking dishesqty 4
Hot traysqty 3
Coffee potsqty 2

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 3
Cleaning bucketsqty 2
Dish brushesqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- Baguettes - 6 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Olive oil - 1 liter
- Balsamic vinegar - 250 milliliters
- Tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 4 pieces
- Red onions - 1 kilogram
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Mixed lettuce - 1 kilogram
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Zucchinis - 6 pieces
- Mushrooms - 1,5 kilogram
- Green beans - 2 kilograms
- Potatoes - 5 kilograms
- Garlic - 4 bulbs
- Fresh basil - 6 bunches
- Fresh parsley - 4 bunches
- Fresh thyme - 3 tubs
- Lemons - 10 pieces
- Chicken breast fillet - 4 kilogram
- Vegetable stock - 6 liters
- Chicken stock - 4 liters
- Cooking cream - 2 liters
- Parmesan cheese - 1 kilogram
- Mozzarella - 1 kilogram
- Grated cheese - 1,5 kilograms
- Pasta - 3 kilograms
- Tomato passata - 4 liters
- Tomato paste - 4 tubes
- Mayonnaise - 1 liter
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Chili flakes - 1 jar
- Tiramisu - 24 portions
- Mascarpone - 1,5 kilogram
- Ladyfingers - 4 packs
- Eggs - 24 pieces
- Granulated sugar - 1 kilogram
- Cocoa powder - 250 grams
- Coffee beans - 1 kilogram
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat drink - 2 liter
- Sugar cubes - 1 box
- Still water - 12 bottles
- Sparkling water - 12 bottles
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Ginger ale - 4 bottles
- Orange juice - 4 liters
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Beer - 36 bottles
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- Rosé - 4 bottles
- Champagne - 6 bottles
- Ice cubes - 8 kilograms
- Mixed nuts - 1 kilogram
- Green olives - 4 jars
- Salted crackers - 6 packs
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 8 pieces

Tips

Count one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one soup bowl and one full cutlery set per guest, then add 10% extra. If soup is not on the menu, you can leave out the bowls.
Plan two water glasses per person and one wine glass per wine drinker. For a toast, have one champagne glass per guest, plus at least two spare glasses.
Allow one serving platter or bowl for each main dish, side dish and dessert, and keep one serving spoon or utensil with every dish. This prevents guests from borrowing cutlery from the table.
Do not leave chilling until the last hour: put drinks in coolers several hours before guests arrive, and keep a separate supply of ice or cold packs available for topping up.
Check kitchen and comfort items at least one day ahead. Cutting boards, chef’s knives, baking dishes, hot trays, coffee pots, kettles, clothes hangers and working table lights are easy to overlook.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and glasses do I need for an engagement dinner?: Start with one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one soup bowl and one cutlery set per guest, plus 10% spare. Plan two water glasses per person, one wine glass per wine drinker and one champagne glass per guest for the toast.
How much tableware should I rent for an engagement dinner?: Use the confirmed guest count as your base and add 10% for plates, glasses and cutlery. For 30 guests, that means 33 of each core item, before allowing for extra glasses if wine or champagne will be served throughout the evening.
When should I chill drinks for an engagement dinner?: Chill bottled and canned drinks at least 4 hours before guests arrive; larger bottles may need longer. Put them in coolers with ice or cold packs before setup, and reserve space for drinks that need to be added later.
What should I buy for coffee after an engagement dinner?: Allow one coffee cup per guest, plus about 10% spare, and provide at least one kettle or coffee pot suitable for your serving method. Buy coffee, tea, milk and sugar no later than the day before so they are not missed during the final shopping trip.

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