What you need for a Start Sunday

A Start Sunday needs more than food for the shared meal. Plan for table service, coffee and cold drinks, a welcome table, name badges, printed programs, and separate meals for dietary requirements. The quantities depend on your registration list, but the practical rule is to count every participant and add a small reserve. Check fresh produce shortly before the event, and keep chilled food in coolers until serving.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 12
Chairsqty 100
Buffet tablesqty 4
Dressing room racksqty 2

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 100
Dessert platesqty 100
Coffee cupsqty 100
Glassesqty 120
Knivesqty 100
Forksqty 100
Spoonsqty 100
Serving spoonsqty 12

Kitchen

Coffee machinesqty 3
Kettlesqty 3
Thermos flasksqty 8
Pitchersqty 6
Serving traysqty 8
Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef's knifeqty 4
Small bowlsqty 20
Serving plattersqty 12
Food warmersqty 6
Coolersqty 4
Food containersqty 12

Equipment

Wireless microphonesqty 3
Microphone standsqty 3
Speakersqty 2
Audio mixer
Laptop
Projector
Projection screen
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 12
Buntingqty 6
Balloonsqty 100
Balloon pumpqty 2
Flower arrangementsqty 8
Chalkboardsqty 4
Name badgesqty 120
Table numbersqty 12

Lighting

Mood lightingqty 6
Battery lanternsqty 8

Cleaning

Cleaning bucketsqty 4
Mopsqty 4
Vacuum cleanerqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 6 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 3 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Chocolate milk - 8 liters
- Semi-skimmed milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Granulated sugar - 2 kilograms
- Sweeteners - 2 boxes
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Iced tea - 8 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 12 bottles
- Still mineral water - 18 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Orange juice - 6 liters
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Wholemeal loaves - 8 loaves
- White rolls - 100 pieces
- Wholemeal rolls - 60 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 2 kilograms
- Mild cheese - 3 kilograms
- Aged cheese - 2 kilograms
- Ham - 2 kilograms
- Chicken breast slices - 2 kilograms
- Hummus - 2 kilograms
- Cream cheese - 1.5 kilograms
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Strawberry jam - 2 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Vegetable soup - 12 liters
- Tomato soup - 8 liters
- Soup sticks - 10 packs
- Mixed salad - 8 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 5 kilograms
- Peppers - 3 kilograms
- Red onions - 1 kilogram
- Corn - 8 cans
- Sweet and sour cucumber - 4 jars
- Olives - 3 jars
- Fruit salad - 8 kilogram
- Apples - 8 kilograms
- Bananas - 6 kilograms
- Grapes - 5 kilograms
- Cake - 8 pieces
- Apple pie - 4 pieces
- Whipped cream - 2 liters
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Mixed snacks - 5 bags
- Bitterballen - 300 pieces
- Cheese soufflés - 150 pieces
- Vegetarian snacks - 150 pieces
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Satay sauce - 2 kilograms
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 1 liter
- Vinegar - 1 bottle
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Coffee filters - 2 packs
- Stirrers - 300 pieces
- Disposable cups for children - 100 pieces
- Disposable gloves - 2 boxes
- Trash bags - 4 rolls
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 box
- Disinfectant spray - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 2 packs
- Microfiber cloths - 2 packs
- Hand soap - 4 bottles

Tips

Count one dinner plate, dessert plate, glass, knife, fork, and spoon per registered participant, then add 5–10% spare place settings for late changes or dropped items.
For the coffee service, allow 2 cups per person if the programme lasts several hours. Prepare enough kettles, coffee machines, thermos flasks, pitchers, and serving trays so one queue does not serve the whole room.
Keep dietary meals in separate food containers and label them before the buffet opens. Match each meal to the dietary information collected during registration, rather than trying to identify meals at serving time.
Set aside supplies for the welcome table: name badges, printed programmes, and pens. Put these out at least 30 minutes before arrival so registration does not compete with the opening programme.
Check the technical equipment the day before: wireless microphones, stands, speakers, audio mixer, laptop, and projector. Test the presentation and song lyrics with the actual cables and power connections, not just the individual devices.

Frequently asked questions

How much tableware do I need for a Start Sunday?: Plan one dinner plate, dessert plate, glass, knife, fork, and spoon per participant, plus 5–10% extra. For 100 people, that means 105–110 of each basic item where practical.
How many coffee cups should I buy for Start Sunday?: Allow two coffee cups per person for a programme lasting several hours. For 100 participants, prepare about 200 cups, or use a smaller number only if you have a reliable washing system between servings.
When should I prepare dietary meals for Start Sunday?: Separate and label dietary meals before the buffet is set out, ideally on the morning of the event. Keep them in closed food containers and confirm the final dietary list 24 hours beforehand.
When should I test the sound and projector equipment?: Run a complete test the day before, then check the setup again at least 60 minutes before participants arrive. Test microphones, speakers, the audio mixer, laptop, projector, presentation, and song lyrics together.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.