What to Buy for a Joint Birthday Party

A joint birthday party needs more than cake and drinks. You will need enough tableware for the full guest list, serving dishes for the buffet, cooling space for drinks, and equipment for music and lighting. Check dietary requirements before shopping, then buy food that can be prepared and stored ahead of time. This list also covers the items people often remember too late, such as cake plates, cake forks, storage containers, extension leads and a way to manage coats and gifts.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 5
Chairsqty 32
Coat Rack

Tableware

Platesqty 40
Pastry platesqty 40
Glassesqty 40
Coffee Cupsqty 30
Knivesqty 40
Forksqty 40
Spoonsqty 40
Cake forksqty 40
Serving utensilsqty 8

Kitchen

Cutting Boardsqty 3
Chef's knivesqty 3
Serving plattersqty 8
Covered serving plattersqty 4
Cake Knife
Thermosesqty 3
Storage containersqty 8

Equipment

Coolersqty 3
Bluetooth Speaker
Extension Cordsqty 3
Power Stripsqty 3

Lighting

String lightsqty 3

Decorations

Balloonqty 80
Balloon pump
Bannersqty 6
Tableclothsqty 5
Vasesqty 4
Tealight Holdersqty 12

Cleaning

Trash binsqty 3
Bucketsqty 2
Cleaning clothsqty 8

Catering

Groceries
- Mini rolls - 60 pieces
- White Sandwich Bread - 3 loaves
- Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread - 3 loaves
- Baguettes - 6 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 500 grams
- Mild Cheese - 1.5 kilograms
- Brie - 500 grams
- Cooked Ham - 1 kilogram
- Chicken breast slices - 750 grams
- Hummus - 600 grams
- Cream cheese - 500 grams
- Egg salad - 500 grams
- Cucumbers - 4 pieces
- Tomatoes - 1 kilogram
- Arugula - 300 grams
- Red onions - 4 pieces
- Bell peppers - 6 pieces
- Carrots - 1 kilogram
- Cherry tomatoes - 750 grams
- Mixed lettuce - 600 grams
- Cucumber salad - 2 containers
- Pasta salad - 2 kilograms
- Potato salad - 2 kilograms
- Baby potatoes - 2 kilograms
- Chicken skewers - 2 kilograms
- Vegetarian bites - 1.5 kilograms
- Dutch meatballs - 2 kilograms
- Mini spring rolls - 1 kilogram
- Paprika chips - 3 bags
- Plain chips - 3 bags
- Snack mix - 2 bags
- Peanuts - 500 grams
- Grapes - 1.5 kilograms
- Apples - 2 kilogram
- Strawberries - 1 kilogram
- Cake - 2 cakes
- Whipped cream - 4 cans
- Vanilla ice cream - 2 liters
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Orange soda - 3 bottles
- Iced Tea - 3 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 4 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Rosé - 4 bottles
- Red wine - 3 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liters
- Sugar - 500 grams
- Lemons - 6 pieces
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Garlic sauce - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 canister
- Paprika powder - 1 canister
- Italian herbs - 1 canister
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Baking paper - 1 roll
- Napkins - 100 pieces
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 1 bottle
- All-purpose cleaner - 1 bottle
- Toilet cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 6 pieces

Tips

Count plates, glasses and forks for every invited guest, then add 10% extra. Cake plates, cake forks and coffee cups are easy to overlook when the main tableware is already covered.
Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, followed by about one drink per person per hour. Chill drinks in advance and use cool boxes if the refrigerator cannot hold everything.
For a buffet with several salads, filled rolls and snacks, prepare one serving utensil per dish and use lidded serving bowls for food that must wait before serving. Keep storage containers available for leftovers.
Collect dietary requirements before buying ingredients, ideally at least 7 days before the party. Mark separate dishes clearly so guests can identify suitable food without asking during the buffet.
Test the Bluetooth speaker, lights and power setup at least 1 day ahead. Count extension leads and power strips before decorating, and keep the coat rack and an area for gifts ready before guests arrive.

Frequently asked questions

How much tableware do I need for a joint birthday party?: Count one dinner plate, glass, knife and fork per guest, plus at least 10% extra. For cake, provide one cake plate and cake fork per person, with a few additional pieces for breakage or seconds.
How many drinks should I buy for a joint birthday party?: Allow two to three drinks per person during the first hour and about one drink per person for each following hour. Add water and non-alcoholic options for the entire party, and chill the first batch at least 4 hours before guests arrive.
When should I order the birthday cake?: Order the cake at least 7 days before the party, or earlier if it has a custom design or serves a large group. Arrange pickup for the same day and keep a cake knife, cake plates and cake forks ready.
What do people forget to buy for a birthday buffet?: Common omissions include serving utensils, lidded serving bowls, storage containers, napkins, cake forks, coffee cups and extra glasses. Check these items at least 2 days before the party, rather than while guests are arriving.

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