What to Buy for a Forest Wedding

A forest wedding needs more than food, drinks and decorations. You also need enough tableware for a full meal, reliable ways to keep drinks cold, covered serving equipment and practical items for uneven ground or changing weather. Use this shopping list alongside your guest count and menu. Buy or hire the less obvious essentials early, then complete the food and drink shop close enough to the ceremony that chilled items stay fresh.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 3
Tablesqty 10
Chairsqty 90
Bar stoolsqty 8
Buffet tablesqty 4
Ceremony chairsqty 80
Wedding arch
Clothes racksqty 2

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 100
Dessert platesqty 100
Coffee cupsqty 90
Water glassesqty 100
Wine glassesqty 100
Champagne glassesqty 90
Coffee spoonsqty 100
Dinner knivesqty 100
Dinner spoonsqty 100
Dinner forksqty 100
Serving utensilsqty 20
Carafesqty 12

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef's knivesqty 4
Serving plattersqty 20
Serving trays with lidsqty 8
Serving spoonsqty 12
Food warmersqty 8
Coolersqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 6
Corkscrewqty 4
Bottle openersqty 4

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Portable speakersqty 2
Wireless microphonesqty 2
Mixer
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6
Power banksqty 4

Lighting

String lightsqty 12
LED lampsqty 10
Lanternsqty 12
Batteriesqty 48

Decorations

Table runnersqty 10
Cloth napkinsqty 100
Flower vasesqty 20
Artificial flowersqty 120
Welcome sign
Table numbersqty 10
Place card holdersqty 90
Name badgesqty 90
Ceremony programsqty 90
Candles in glassesqty 40
Ring pillow
Guest book
Pensqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 8
Trash bag holdersqty 8
Broom and dustpanqty 3
Mopsqty 3
Bucketsqty 4
Cleaning glovesqty 6
Hand soap dispensersqty 4

Safety

First aid kit
Fire extinguishersqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Chicken breast - 8 kilogram
- Vegetarian burgers - 30 pieces
- Salmon fillet - 5 kilograms
- Bulgur - 4 kilogram
- Potatoes - 10 kilograms
- Rice - 4 kilograms
- Pasta - 4 kilograms
- Mixed lettuce - 8 heads
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 8 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 5 kilograms
- Red onions - 2 kilograms
- Carrots - 4 kilograms
- Zucchini - 4 kilogram
- Mushrooms - 3 kilogram
- Broccoli - 3 kilograms
- Green beans - 3 kilograms
- Avocados - 20 pieces
- Lemons - 20 pieces
- Limes - 20 pieces
- Garlic - 8 bulbs
- Fresh basil - 10 bunches
- Fresh mint - 8 bunches
- Parsley - 8 bunches
- Rosemary - 6 bunches
- Salt - 1 kilogram
- Black pepper - 250 grams
- Paprika powder - 250 gram
- Curry powder - 200 grams
- Olive oil - 3 liters
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 liter
- Mayonnaise - 2 liter
- Ketchup - 2 liters
- Mustard - 1 liter
- Garlic sauce - 2 liters
- Chili sauce - 1 liter
- Barbecue sauce - 2 liters
- Yogurt - 4 kilogram
- Feta - 2 kilograms
- Grated cheese - 2 kilogram
- Butter - 1 kilogram
- Cream cheese - 1 kilogram
- Bread - 12 loaves
- Baguettes - 20 pieces
- Crackers - 8 packs
- Hummus - 2 kilograms
- Herb butter - 1 kilogram
- Olives - 2 kilograms
- Mixed nuts - 2 kilograms
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Salted breadsticks - 6 bags
- Grapes - 5 kilograms
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Strawberries - 4 kilogram
- Melons - 6 pieces
- Wedding cake - 1 cake
- Mini pastries - 100 pieces
- Coffee - 3 kilograms
- Tea - 120 bags
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Tonic - 8 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 60 bottles
- Sparkling water - 30 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 liters
- Orange juice - 8 liters
- Alcohol-free beer - 48 bottles
- Beer - 120 bottles
- White wine - 18 bottles
- Red wine - 18 bottles
- Rosé - 12 bottles
- Prosecco - 15 bottles
- Gin - 3 bottles
- Vodka - 2 bottles
- Rum - 2 bottles
- Tonic water - 12 bottles
- Ginger beer - 8 bottles
- Ice cubes - 30 kilograms
- Cocktail sticks - 300 pieces
- Wooden skewers - 300 pieces
- Paper straws - 200 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Trash bags - 60 pieces
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 2 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 6 packs

Tips

Count tableware for every guest plus 10% extra: plates, glasses, cups and cutlery are easily dropped, misplaced or left at another table. For 80 guests, that means roughly 88 of each main item.
Plan drink storage before shopping. Allow one cooler or equivalent cold-storage space for every 30–40 guests, and chill drinks at least 12 hours before the wedding rather than relying on ice at the last minute.
Match serving equipment to the menu: provide one serving utensil per dish, add covered trays for food that must travel from the kitchen, and prepare food warmers if the meal will sit out for more than 20 minutes.
For the ceremony, count one chair per attendee and check the arch, furniture and clothing racks against the actual layout at least 48 hours before delivery. Forest paths often make a second delivery or repositioning difficult.
Keep a final top-up shop for the day before: ice, bottled water, coffee supplies, corkscrews and bottle openers are commonly missed even when the main catering order is complete. Confirm all supplier deliveries 24 hours in advance.

Frequently asked questions

How much tableware do I need for a forest wedding?: Plan one complete place setting per guest plus 10% spare. For 80 guests, prepare about 88 dinner plates, dessert plates, sets of dinner cutlery, water glasses and wine glasses; add coffee cups and spoons if coffee is served.
How many drinks should I buy for a forest wedding?: For the first hour, allow two to three drinks per person, then roughly one drink per person per hour. Add plenty of water and keep at least one extra case of non-alcoholic drinks for hot weather or drivers.
When should I buy food and drinks for a forest wedding?: Buy shelf-stable drinks, serving supplies and packaged goods several days ahead. Shop for fresh food one day before the wedding, and chill drinks for at least 12 hours so they are cold when guests arrive.
What do I need to keep food cold or warm outdoors?: Use coolers for chilled food and drinks, and food warmers for dishes that must stay hot. Check the menu 48 hours beforehand and make sure each buffet dish has a serving utensil and enough covered transport space.

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