What to Buy for a Family Day

A Family Day needs more than food and drinks. You also need practical serving equipment, chilled storage, power supplies and weather protection for a smooth day outdoors. Plan about two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one per hour after that. Count plates, cups and cutlery for every guest, plus a small buffer for spills and second servings. This list helps you check the shopping and borrowed equipment before the final setup.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 60
Buffet tablesqty 3
High tablesqty 4
Tableclothsqty 10

Tableware

Platesqty 70
Dessert platesqty 70
Cutlery setsqty 70
Coffee cupsqty 50
Glassesqty 100
Wine glassesqty 40
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving spoonsqty 10
Pitchersqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 4
Mixing bowlsqty 6
Measuring cupsqty 3
Pliersqty 6
Aluminum traysqty 10
Hot traysqty 4

Equipment

Barbecuesqty 2
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 3
Portable speakersqty 2
Microphone

Decorations

Balloonsqty 100
Buntingqty 12
Table décorqty 10
Name badgesqty 60
Tapeqty 4
Ropeqty 2
Directional signsqty 8

Lighting

String lightsqty 6
LED lanternsqty 8
Spare batteriesqty 24

Sports equipment

Footballsqty 3
Frisbeesqty 4
Wooden gamesqty 4
Skipping ropesqty 6
Conesqty 20
Prizesqty 20
Chalkqty 2
Bubble solutionqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Trash bag holdersqty 4
Bucketsqty 3
Mopsqty 3
Broom setsqty 3
Cleaning clothsqty 12
Hand soap dispensersqty 4
Towel rollsqty 6

Catering

Groceries
- Chicken skewers - 60 pieces
- Hamburgers - 50 pieces
- Beef sausages - 40 pieces
- Vegetarian burgers - 15 pieces
- Vegetarian Sausages - 15 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 60 pieces
- Hot dog buns - 50 pieces
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Garlic bread - 6 pieces
- Potato salad - 4 kilos
- Pasta salad - 4 kilo
- Crudités salad - 3 kilos
- Mixed salad - 2 kilos
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Bell peppers - 2 kilos
- Red onions - 1 kilo
- Corn on the cob - 30 pieces
- Mushrooms - 2 kilos
- Zucchinis - 6 pieces
- Eggplants - 4 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Grated cheese - 1 kilo
- Feta cheese - 750 grams
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 2 bottles
- Satay sauce - 2 jars
- Chili sauce - 1 bottle
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Sunflower oil - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Garlic powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Curry powder - 1 jar
- Apples - 5 kilo
- Bananas - 3 kilos
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Strawberries - 2 kilos
- Watermelons - 3 pieces
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Mixed nuts - 1 kilo
- Salted breadsticks - 5 bags
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Brownies - 50 pieces
- Muffins - 50 pieces
- Vanilla ice cream - 5 liters
- Chocolate sauce - 2 bottles
- Whipped cream - 8 cans
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Iced tea - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 8 bottles
- Still water - 12 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Lemonade syrup - 2 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Charcoal - 4 bags
- Firelighters - 2 boxes
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Cling film - 3 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper napkins - 250 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 50 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 30 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 10 pieces
- Rubber gloves - 4 pairs

Tips

Plan one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one cutlery set and one drinking glass per guest, then add 10% extra. Keep separate wine glasses only if wine is part of the menu.
Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour and one per person for each following hour. Chill drinks before guests arrive and use coolers for the remaining stock.
Keep meat and vegetarian products in separate coolers or containers. Do not leave chilled food outside for more than two hours, or one hour on very hot days.
For a buffet, provide one serving platter or tray for each main dish, plus serving spoons or tongs. Prepare salads, sauces and cut vegetables before guests arrive so the kitchen does not become a bottleneck.
If the event is outdoors, arrange party tents before the day and keep extension cords, power strips and hot trays together. A weather backup is easy to forget until rain or wind makes the original setup unusable.

Frequently asked questions

How much food and drink do I need for Family Day?: For drinks, plan two to three per person in the first hour and one per person for each additional hour. Food quantities depend on the menu, but buy enough for every registered guest plus around 10% extra for second servings.
How many plates and glasses do I need for a Family Day?: Count one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one cutlery set and one glass per guest. Add 10% extra, so a group of 30 needs at least 33 of each frequently used item.
What should I bring to keep Family Day food cold?: Use coolers for drinks, meat and vegetarian products, keeping those food groups separate. Pack ice or cooling elements and keep chilled food outside for no longer than two hours, or one hour in hot weather.
What equipment do I need for an outdoor Family Day?: Check party tents, tables, chairs, buffet tables, tablecloths, coolers and the barbecue setup. If you need powered equipment such as coffee machines or speakers, bring extension cords and power strips and test them at least one day beforehand.

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