What you need for a symbolic wedding

A symbolic wedding needs more than chairs, flowers and a cake. You’ll also need separate tableware for dinner, dessert and drinks, plus ceremony items such as an arch, ring pillow and printed programs. This shopping list covers the practical supplies for the ceremony, meal and reception, including items that are easy to overlook. Use your guest count to calculate quantities, then arrange fresh food, chilled drinks and refrigerated cake close to the event day.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 70
Ceremony chairsqty 65
Buffet tablesqty 3
Gift table
Table linenqty 8
High tablesqty 4
Coat rack

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 75
Pastry platesqty 75
Coffee cupsqty 70
Water glassesqty 80
Wine glassesqty 80
Champagne glassesqty 70
Coffee spoonsqty 70
Forksqty 80
Knivesqty 80
Spoonsqty 80
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving utensilsqty 12

Decorations

Flower arrangementsqty 10
Bridal bouquet
Flower corsagesqty 6
Table décorqty 8
String lightsqty 6
Fabric buntingqty 6
Balloonsqty 100
Balloon weightsqty 8
Ceremony arch
Ring pillow
Welcome sign
Photo backdrop
Name badgesqty 65
Table numbersqty 8
Program cardsqty 70
Menusqty 8

Equipment

Speakersqty 2
Microphoneqty 2
Music player
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 4
Coolersqty 4
Hot traysqty 4
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Cake knife
Camera

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Mixing bowlsqty 6
Measuring cupsqty 2
Aluminum foilqty 2
Cling filmqty 2
Kitchen towelsqty 8
Serving spoonsqty 8

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Cleaning bucketsqty 2
Mopsqty 2
Broom and dustpanqty 2
Toilet brushesqty 2

Lighting

LED lanternsqty 8
LED candlesqty 30

Catering

Groceries
- White rolls - 80 pieces
- Whole wheat rolls - 40 pieces
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Brie - 1 kilo
- Cream cheese - 1 kilo
- Back ham - 1.5 kilos
- Smoked chicken breast - 1 kilo
- Vegetarian spreads - 1 kg
- Hummus - 1 kilo
- Egg salad - 1 kilo
- Iceberg lettuce - 8 pieces
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Bell peppers - 2 kilos
- Red onions - 1 kilo
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Strawberries - 3 kilos
- Olives - 1 kilo
- Pickles - 3 jars
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Salted nuts - 2 kilos
- Snack mix - 3 kilos
- Herb cheese - 1 kilo
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Salt - 1 pack
- Italian herbs - 2 jars
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Potato salad - 5 kilos
- Pasta salad - 5 kilos
- Raw vegetable salad - 4 kilo
- Mixed green salad - 4 kilos
- Herb butter - 1 kilo
- Vegetarian quiche - 4 pieces
- Mini meatballs - 4 kilos
- Chicken skewers - 4 kilos
- Vegetarian skewers - 3 kilo
- Warm vegetable mix - 5 kilos
- Rice - 4 kilos
- Gravy - 3 liters
- Vegan main course - 10 servings
- Gluten-free rolls - 6 pieces
- Wedding cake - 70 portions
- Petit fours - 80 pieces
- Whipped cream - 2 liters
- Coffee - 2 kilos
- Tea - 100 bags
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Tonic - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Beer - 8 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 2 crates
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- Rosé - 8 bottles
- Prosecco - 10 bottles
- Gin - 2 bottles
- Bitter lemon - 4 bottles
- Ice cubes - 20 kilo
- Lemons - 3 kilos
- Limes - 2 kilos
- Fresh mint - 10 bunches
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper straws - 100 pieces
- Coffee filters - 100 pieces
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles

Tips

Plan tableware by guest count, not by table count. For each guest, allow one dinner plate, one pastry plate, one fork, one knife, one spoon, one water glass and the specific wine or champagne glasses you will use.
Keep ceremony seating separate from reception seating if the layout changes during the day. Count ceremony chairs for every guest who will attend the service, then check whether you also need tables, linen and chairs for the meal.
Order or collect items with different storage needs on different schedules. Fresh produce is best collected on the day before or the day itself, while decorations, table linen, name badges and printed programs can be prepared several days earlier.
Do not leave cold storage until the last minute. Reserve enough refrigerator or cooler space for drinks and keep the cake safely chilled until it is ready to serve.
Prepare a small ceremony kit in one clearly labelled box. Include the ring pillow, ceremony text, printed programs, name badges and any materials needed by the coordinator or speakers, so they are not mixed in with catering supplies.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to buy for a symbolic wedding?: Plan for furniture, table linen, dinner and dessert tableware, water and wine glasses, serving platters and utensils, flowers, ceremony decorations, drinks and cake. You will also need practical ceremony supplies such as a ring pillow, printed programs and name badges.
How many plates and glasses do I need per wedding guest?: Allow one dinner plate and one pastry plate per guest, plus one fork, one knife and one spoon. For drinks, plan at least one water glass per guest and add wine or champagne glasses according to the drinks you are serving; keep a small spare supply available.
When should I buy or collect supplies for a symbolic wedding?: Buy durable items such as decorations, linen and tableware several days before the ceremony. Collect fresh produce the day before or on the day, chill drinks in advance, and keep the cake refrigerated until serving.
What ceremony items are easy to forget?: The ring pillow, ceremony arch, ceremony text, printed programs and name badges are commonly missed. Put them together in one labelled box at least one day before the wedding and give it to the ceremony coordinator on arrival.

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