What you need for a New Year’s Eve celebration

This New Year’s Eve celebration shopping list covers the practical items for a hosted evening with a buffet, hot soup, salads, coffee and tea, music and midnight decorations. Plan tableware and serving equipment for every guest, then add a small reserve for breakages and spills. Chilled food needs cooler space or prompt refrigeration, while hot dishes need food warmers or serving containers. Check power, lighting and coat storage before the day itself, not when guests are arriving.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 60
Coat racksqty 2
Tableclothsqty 8

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 60
Dessert platesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 60
Water glassesqty 60
Wine glassesqty 60
Coffee spoonsqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 60

Kitchen

Soup bowlsqty 60
Serving spoonsqty 8
Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 4
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving traysqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 6
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Food warmersqty 6
Bluetooth speakersqty 2
Wireless microphonesqty 2
Power stripsqty 4
Extension cordsqty 4

Lighting

LED light stringsqty 6
LED candlesqty 30

Decorations

Balloonsqty 100
New Year's Eve flagsqty 4
Confetti-free table decorqty 8
Name badgesqty 60
Table numbersqty 8

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Broom and dustpanqty 2
Mop headsqty 2
Cleaning bucketsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Sweeteners - 2 boxes
- Semi-skimmed milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Chocolate milk - 6 liters
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Bitter lemon - 3 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Orange juice - 4 liters
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Beer - 36 bottles
- Red wine - 6 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Alcohol-free sparkling wine - 6 bottles
- Apples - 5 kilo
- Bananas - 3 kilos
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Mandarins - 4 kilo
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Snack mix - 3 bags
- Cheese biscuits - 4 packs
- Crackers - 6 packs
- Cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Brie - 1.5 kilos
- Gouda cheese - 2 kilos
- Liver pâté - 6 cans
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Cucumber - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Vegetable stock - 10 liters
- Diced tomatoes - 12 cans
- Onions - 3 kilos
- Garlic - 4 bulbs
- Leeks - 2 kilos
- Potatoes - 8 kilos
- Ground beef - 4 kilo
- Vegetarian meatballs - 3 kilos
- Quiches - 8 pieces
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Herb butter - 12 tubs
- Mixed salad - 2 kilos
- Cucumber salad - 3 kilos
- Pasta salad - 4 kilo
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Whipped cream - 12 cans
- Vanilla ice cream - 5 liters
- Apple fritters - 60 pieces
- Oliebollen - 80 pieces
- Icing sugar - 2 kilos
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 package
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 12 pieces
- Rubber gloves - 4 pairs

Tips

Count one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one soup bowl and one complete cutlery set per guest, plus 10% extra. Add matching glasses for water, wine and coffee so used items do not stop service.
For coffee and tea after the meal, allow one cup and spoon per guest, with at least two coffee machines or kettles if the group is large. Thermos flasks keep drinks available while the buffet is being cleared.
Reserve cooler capacity for chilled products and keep fresh produce separate until preparation. Move perishable food into refrigeration promptly after shopping rather than leaving it in a warm car or room.
Check every power strip and extension cord before connecting speakers, microphone equipment and LED light strings. Keep cables away from walkways and test the microphone and music setup before guests arrive.
Buy or collect New Year’s Eve decorations early, including flags, balloons, LED candles and light strings. Oliebollen and other fresh items are easy to forget, so confirm the order and collection time before the final shopping trip.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and glasses do I need for a New Year’s Eve party?: Plan one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one soup bowl and one cutlery set per guest, plus about 10% spare. Provide one water glass and one wine glass per guest; add extra coffee cups if you are not washing up during the evening.
What food should I buy for a New Year’s Eve buffet?: Allow at least one portion of soup, salad and each main buffet dish per guest, then add 10% for seconds and unexpected guests. Include fresh produce, chilled ingredients, bread or accompaniments, and order oliebollen early enough to collect them on the agreed day.
How early should I shop for a New Year’s Eve celebration?: Buy decorations, tableware and non-perishable supplies at least 1 week ahead. Shop for fresh produce 1–2 days before the event, and collect or buy chilled and baked items as close to serving time as practical.
How much lighting and power equipment do I need for New Year’s Eve?: Use enough LED light strings and LED candles to cover entrances, tables and darker walkways without relying on room lighting alone. Test all speakers, microphones, power strips and extension cords at least 24 hours before the celebration.

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