Faculty party shopping list

A faculty party needs more than food and drinks. Plan tableware for the full guest list, serving pieces for the buffet, chilled storage for drinks, and practical items such as waste bins and coat racks. Add supplies for the quiz, games, name badges and any photo area before you shop. Use the final registration count, including dietary requirements, to set quantities and avoid a last-minute supermarket run.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 12
Chairsqty 110
Buffet tablesqty 4
Bar stoolsqty 8
Coat racksqty 4
Waste binsqty 8
Coolersqty 6
Parasolsqty 4

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 120
Dessert platesqty 120
Glassesqty 150
Coffee cupsqty 80
Coffee spoonsqty 80
Forksqty 120
Knivesqty 120
Spoonsqty 120
Serving spoonsqty 12
Serving bowlsqty 12
Serving plattersqty 10
Carafesqty 12

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 12
Table runnersqty 12
Balloonsqty 150
Balloon archesqty 2
Buntingqty 12
Flagsqty 8
LED string lightsqty 8
Photo backdrop
Photo propsqty 20
Flower arrangementsqty 6
Tealight holdersqty 20

Equipment

Speakersqty 2
Mixer
Microphoneqty 2
Microphone standsqty 2
Extension cordsqty 8
Power stripsqty 8
Rechargeable lampsqty 6
Music laptop
Power banksqty 4

Kitchen

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Hot traysqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 6
Measuring cupsqty 4
Kitchen tongsqty 6
Oven glovesqty 4
Cooling racksqty 4
Aluminum foilqty 4
Cling filmqty 4
Storage binsqty 20
Bottle openersqty 4
Ice bucketsqty 4
Scoop ice creamqty 2

Cleaning

Broomqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 3
Mopsqty 3
Bucketsqty 3
Cleaning clothsqty 20
Litter pickersqty 2
Hand soap dispensersqty 4
Disinfectant sprayqty 4
Waste sorting binsqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Stirrers - 150 pieces
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 10 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Iced tea - 8 bottles
- Ginger ale - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 10 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Alcohol-free beer - 3 cases
- Pilsner - 8 crates
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Sparkling wine - 4 bottles
- Beer glasses - 120 pieces
- Ice cubes - 20 kilo
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Tortilla chips - 8 bags
- Salted peanuts - 4 bags
- Cocktail nuts - 4 bags
- Olives - 6 jars
- Pickles - 4 jars
- Snack mix - 4 bags
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 3 jars
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Garlic sauce - 3 bottles
- Salsa sauce - 6 jars
- Guacamole - 6 tubs
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Toast squares - 10 packs
- Crackers - 8 packs
- Wraps - 10 packs
- Hummus - 8 tubs
- Herb cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Brie - 2 kilos
- Vegan cheese - 1 kilo
- Ham - 2 kilos
- Salami - 2 kilo
- Vegan spread - 1.5 kilo
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Carrots - 4 kilos
- Grapes - 5 kilos
- Apples - 60 pieces
- Bananas - 40 pieces
- Mixed salad - 5 kilos
- Pasta salad - 8 kilo
- Potato salad - 6 kilos
- Pasta - 5 kilos
- Pesto sauce - 6 jars
- Tomato sauce - 6 jars
- Chicken skewers - 8 kilo
- Vegetarian skewers - 5 kilo
- Falafel - 4 kilos
- Mini sausages - 5 kilos
- Mini burgers - 120 pcs
- Hamburger buns - 120 pieces
- Vegan burger buns - 30 pieces
- Vegan burgers - 30 pieces
- Mini pizzas - 120 pieces
- Vegetarian quiche - 8 pieces
- Vegan quiche - 4 pieces
- Herbs - 6 jars
- Pepper - 2 jars
- Salt - 2 packs
- Olive oil - 3 bottles
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Chocolate cake - 4 pieces
- Apple pie - 4 pieces
- Vegan cake - 2 pieces
- Brownies - 120 pieces
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Whipped cream - 12 aerosol cans
- Vanilla ice cream - 6 liters
- Fruit decoration - 3 kilo
- Paper napkins - 500 pieces
- Paper straws - 300 pieces
- Coffee filters - 2 packs
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 60 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles

Tips

Count plates, glasses, forks, knives and spoons for every registered guest, then add 10% extra. This covers breakage, dropped items and guests returning for another serving.
Plan drinks by service period: allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one to two per person for each additional hour. Chill drinks at least 4 hours before guests arrive.
For a buffet, prepare at least one serving spoon or pair of tongs per dish, plus extra bowls and platters for refills. These are often forgotten until food is already on the tables.
Buy name badges, pens and game prizes at least 3 days before the party. Keep quiz materials and prizes together so the games can start without another shopping trip.
Check practical capacity before buying decorations: provide one waste bin for roughly every 25 guests and reserve enough coat-rack space for one coat per person. Pack balloons, bunting and lights separately from food and drinks.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and glasses do I need for a faculty party?: Start with one dinner plate, one dessert plate and two glasses per guest, then add 10% extra. For 80 guests, that means at least 88 dinner plates, 88 dessert plates and 176 glasses.
How much alcohol and soft drink should I buy for a faculty party?: For the first hour, allow two to three drinks per person; after that, allow one to two drinks per hour. Buy non-alcoholic options for at least 25% of the total drinks and chill everything at least 4 hours in advance.
What tableware is needed for a faculty party buffet?: Buy or reserve dinner plates, dessert plates, glasses, coffee cups, coffee spoons, forks, knives and spoons. Add one serving spoon or pair of tongs per dish, plus at least two spare serving platters and bowls for refills.
When should I buy supplies for a faculty party?: Buy shelf-stable snacks, decorations, name badges and game prizes 3 to 7 days before the event. Buy fresh food one day before, and refrigerate drinks and other perishable items at least 4 hours before guests arrive.

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