What you need for a sustainable wedding

Use this sustainable wedding shopping list to organise the physical items for your ceremony, meal and reception. Plan tableware for every guest, plus extra pieces for serving, dessert and coffee so you are not washing dishes during the speeches. Reusable furniture, cloth napkins, glass vases and fabric runners reduce waste, but they need collecting, checking and transporting before the day. Confirm what your venue and suppliers already provide before buying or borrowing anything.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Beer tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 70
Ceremony chairsqty 70
Buffet tablesqty 4
Stoolsqty 8
Coat racksqty 2
Clothes hangersqty 80
Party tentsqty 2
Parasol basesqty 2

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 80
Dessert platesqty 80
Soup bowlsqty 70
Water glassesqty 90
Wine glassesqty 80
Champagne glassesqty 70
Coffee cupsqty 70
Forksqty 80
Knivesqty 80
Spoonsqty 80
Serving spoonsqty 20

Decorations

Fabric table runnersqty 8
Cloth napkinsqty 80
Name badgesqty 70
Menusqty 70
Ceremony bookletsqty 70
Glass vasesqty 30
Wooden signpostsqty 6
Welcome sign
Ring box
Rope rollsqty 4
Clothing clipsqty 60
Paper lanternsqty 20
Guest book
Pensqty 6
Photo framesqty 12

Equipment

Bluetooth speakersqty 2
Microphonesqty 2
Microphone stand
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 4
Coolersqty 4
High tablesqty 4

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef's knivesqty 6
Mixing bowlsqty 8
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 8
Coffee machinesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 6
Water carafesqty 10
Cake knife

Lighting

LED light stringsqty 8
LED lanternsqty 12
Rechargeable lampsqty 8
LED candlesqty 30

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Waste sorting stickersqty 6
Bucketsqty 4
Microfiber clothsqty 12
Dish brushesqty 4
Hand broomsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Brown bread - 8 loaves
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Whole wheat wraps - 40 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilogram
- Cream cheese - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1.5 kilograms
- Brie - 1,5 kilogram
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Goat cheese - 1 kilogram
- Smoked salmon - 1 kilogram
- Falafel - 2 kilograms
- Chickpeas - 8 cans
- Lentils - 2 kilograms
- Quinoa - 2 kilograms
- Rice - 3 kilograms
- Pasta - 3 kilograms
- Potatoes - 8 kilograms
- Sweet potatoes - 5 kilogram
- Carrots - 4 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 5 kilograms
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Peppers - 3 kilograms
- Courgettes - 3 kilograms
- Eggplants - 2 kilograms
- Red onions - 2 kilograms
- Celery - 1 kilogram
- Arugula - 1 kilogram
- Mixed salad - 2 kilogram
- Spinach - 1 kilogram
- Mushrooms - 2 kilogram
- Fresh herbs - 10 bunches
- Garlic - 8 bulbs
- Lemons - 30 pieces
- Apples - 5 kilograms
- Grapes - 4 kilograms
- Strawberries - 3 kilograms
- Pears - 4 kilograms
- Mixed nuts - 2 kilograms
- Raisins - 1 kilogram
- Olive oil - 3 liters
- Sunflower oil - 2 liters
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 liter
- Red wine vinegar - 1 liter
- Mayonnaise - 2 liter
- Ketchup - 2 liters
- Mustard - 1 liter
- Pesto - 1,5 kilogram
- Tzatziki - 1,5 kilograms
- Tomato sauce - 3 liter
- Soy sauce - 1 liter
- Salt - 1 kilogram
- Black pepper - 250 grams
- Paprika powder - 250 gram
- Cumin - 150 gram
- Oregano - 150 grams
- Basil - 150 gram
- Bouillon cubes - 30 pieces
- Honey - 1 kilogram
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Flour - 2 kilograms
- Eggs - 30 pieces
- Whipped cream - 2 liters
- Yogurt - 3 kilograms
- Vegan yogurt - 2 kilogram
- Chocolate - 1 kilogram
- Cookies - 4 kilograms
- Cake - 8 kilograms
- Coffee - 2 kilograms
- Tea - 120 bags
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Sparkling water - 30 liters
- Still water - 40 liters
- Apple juice - 12 liters
- Orange juice - 12 liters
- Cola - 12 liters
- Cola Zero - 12 liters
- Ginger beer - 8 liters
- Tonic - 8 liters
- Beer - 120 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 48 bottles
- Red wine - 18 bottles
- White wine - 18 bottles
- Rosé - 10 bottles
- Prosecco - 10 bottles
- Gin - 2 bottles
- Vermouth - 2 bottles
- Ice cubes - 15 kilograms
- Lemon juice - 2 liters
- Dishwasher tablets - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 liters
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Residual waste bags - 30 pieces
- Compostable trash bags - 20 pieces
- Paper napkins - 2 packs

Tips

Count one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one soup bowl, one fork, one knife and one spoon per guest, then add 10% extra for breakages, dropped items or unexpected guests.
Provide one water glass per guest and plan wine and champagne glasses by serving moment rather than guest count. If the same glasses cannot be washed during the reception, allow one set per drink type per person.
Add serving spoons to the tableware count separately from guest cutlery. A buffet usually needs at least one serving utensil for each dish, with extra utensils for sauces, salads and desserts.
For an outdoor wedding, check the ground and forecast before collecting party tents, parasol bases and ceremony chairs. Arrange shelter and stable bases at least 48 hours before setup so there is time to replace missing or unsuitable equipment.
Pack ceremony booklets, menus, name badges, the welcome sign, wooden signposts and the ring box in labelled boxes. Keep candles, decorations and rope rolls together, and check them before loading the vehicle.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and glasses do I need for a wedding?: Start with one dinner plate, dessert plate, soup bowl and set of cutlery per guest, plus 10% spare. For glasses, allow one water glass per guest and separate wine or champagne glasses for each serving moment unless you have a washing plan.
What should I buy for a sustainable wedding reception?: Prioritise reusable items: chairs, tables, cloth napkins, fabric runners, glass vases and durable tableware. Check venue stock first, then borrow or hire missing pieces at least 2–4 weeks before the wedding.
How much extra tableware should I order for a wedding?: Order or borrow about 10% more plates, bowls, cutlery and glasses than the confirmed guest count. For 80 guests, that means planning for roughly 88 place settings, subject to your washing and replacement arrangements.
When should I chill drinks for a wedding?: Move drinks into refrigeration or ice-filled containers several hours before serving, depending on the quantity and cooling space. Check the drinks on the morning of the wedding and keep a separate supply ready for later in the reception.

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.