What to Buy for a Garden Picnic

A garden picnic needs more than sandwiches and a blanket. Plan food and drinks by guest count, then cover the practical details: enough seating, reusable tableware, shade, serving equipment, ice and a way to keep food chilled. This checklist helps you shop for a relaxed outdoor meal with buffet-style serving and garden games. It also highlights items people often remember only when guests have arrived, such as bottle openers, serving utensils and lighting.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 40
Picnic blanketsqty 8
Side tablesqty 3
Parasolqty 3
Party tent

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 50
Reusable bowlsqty 50
Reusable glassesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 50
Serving plattersqty 10
Serving trays with lidsqty 6
Pitcherqty 6

Kitchen

Coolersqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 4
Serving spoonsqty 8
Serving tongsqty 6
Bread knivesqty 3
Bottle openersqty 3

Equipment

Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 2
Coffee maker

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 6
Buntingqty 3
Glass vasesqty 6
Table floral arrangementsqty 6

Lighting

LED lanternsqty 10
String lightsqty 3

Sports equipment

Badminton setqty 2
Soft ballsqty 4
Frisbeeqty 2
Outdoor gamesqty 3

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Dishpanqty 2
Bucketsqty 2
Broomqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Reusable cleaning clothsqty 12

Catering

Groceries
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- Baguettes - 6 pieces
- Whole wheat wraps - 30 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Brie - 1 kilogram
- Back ham - 1 kilogram
- Smoked chicken breast - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Cream cheese - 750 grams
- Eggs - 30 pieces
- Baby potatoes - 4 kilogram
- Pasta - 2 kilograms
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Mixed lettuce - 1 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Red onions - 6 pieces
- Canned corn - 6 cans
- Olives - 4 jars
- Feta cheese - 750 grams
- Pesto - 3 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 1 liter
- Balsamic vinegar - 500 milliliters
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 canister
- Paprika powder - 1 can
- Italian herbs - 1 canister
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Salted nuts - 4 bags
- Rice cakes - 4 packs
- Watermelons - 3 pieces
- Apples - 5 kilograms
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Strawberries - 3 kilograms
- Bananas - 3 kilograms
- Brownies - 50 pieces
- Lemon cake - 3 pieces
- Vanilla ice cream - 4 liters
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Sparkling water - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Iced tea - 4 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 3 cases
- Rosé - 8 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Paper napkins - 8 packs
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 4 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 pack
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
- Hand gel - 3 bottles
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Parchment paper - 1 roll

Tips

Plan about 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then 1 drink per person for each additional hour. Buy extra ice for coolers and pitchers rather than relying on chilled drinks alone.
Allow one reusable plate, bowl, glass and cutlery set per guest, plus at least 10% extra. Add coffee cups if coffee is part of the plan, because they are easy to overlook when setting out picnic tableware.
Provide one comfortable seat per guest and enough picnic blankets for people who prefer the ground. For a buffet, add one side table or serving surface for every 8–10 guests so plates and drinks do not crowd the food table.
Keep salads, desserts and other perishable food in coolers until serving. Prepare covered serving trays in advance and buy serving spoons, tongs and a bread knife instead of expecting guests to use their own cutlery.
Check shade and weather cover before shopping day. A parasol may cover a small seating area, while a party tent gives better protection for a buffet; add LED lanterns or string lights if guests may stay after sunset.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a garden picnic?: For a meal with several dishes, plan roughly 500–700 g of food per adult, including salads, bread, main items and dessert. Add about 10% extra for an open buffet, especially if guests arrive hungry or the picnic lasts several hours.
How many drinks should I buy for a garden picnic?: Allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour and 1 drink per person for every hour after that. Include water and non-alcoholic options, and chill drinks at least 4–6 hours before guests arrive.
How many plates and glasses do I need for a picnic?: Buy one plate, bowl, glass and cutlery set per guest, plus 10% extra. For 20 guests, that means at least 22 of each item; add separate coffee cups if coffee will be served.
What should I buy for a garden picnic if it rains?: Arrange a party tent or another covered area for the buffet and seating before the day itself. Check the forecast 24 hours ahead, then keep tablecloths, serving trays with lids and coolers ready so food can be moved quickly.

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