What you need for a Taizé weekend

A Taizé weekend needs more than food and a place to sleep. You will also need simple tableware, hot-drink equipment, serving items and materials for prayer and shared quiet time. Use the plan’s shopping list to check what the venue already provides before buying anything. Confirm dietary requirements and registrations at least one week ahead, then order groceries and collect fresh produce close to the weekend so meals are ready without unnecessary waste.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Chairsqty 50
Tablesqty 8
Coat racksqty 3
Tableclothsqty 8

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 50
Bowlsqty 50
Breakfast platesqty 50
Mugsqty 50
Drinking glassesqty 50
Forksqty 50
Knivesqty 50
Spoonsqty 50
Serving spoonsqty 8
Scissorsqty 4

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Mixing bowlsqty 6
Serving plattersqty 10
Serving trays with lidsqty 6
Water jugsqty 8
Thermos flasksqty 6
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 3
Bread cutting boardqty 2

Equipment

Portable speakersqty 2
Microphonesqty 2
Microphone standsqty 2
Audio cablesqty 4
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Laptop
Projection screen
Projector
Power banksqty 4

Lighting

LED lampsqty 6
String lightsqty 3
Glass candle lanternsqty 12
Tealight holdersqty 20

Decorations

Cross
Colored clothsqty 8
Flower vasesqty 6
Name card holdersqty 50
Cork notice boardsqty 2

Catering

Coolersqty 4
Thermos bottlesqty 6
Bread basketsqty 6
Coffee filtersqty 2
Sugar bowlsqty 4
Milk jugsqty 4
Napkin holdersqty 6
Groceries
- Coffee - 2 kilograms
- Black tea - 4 boxes
- Herbal tea - 3 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Honey - 2 jars
- Semi-skimmed milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Tap water - 40 liters
- Sparkling water - 24 liters
- Apple juice - 12 liters
- Orange juice - 12 liters
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Apples - 50 pieces
- Bananas - 40 pieces
- Grapes - 5 kilograms
- Mandarins - 40 pieces
- Whole wheat bread - 12 loaves
- White bread - 8 loaves
- Whole wheat rolls - 60 pieces
- Croissants - 50 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 2 kilograms
- Margarine - 1 kilogram
- Strawberry jam - 3 jars
- Apricot jam - 2 jars
- Peanut butter - 3 jars
- Chocolate sprinkles - 2 packs
- Hummus - 2 kilograms
- Mild cheese - 3 kilograms
- Boiled eggs - 50 pieces
- Tomatoes - 4 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Red peppers - 12 pieces
- Carrots - 3 kilogram
- Lettuce - 8 heads
- Onions - 2 kilograms
- Garlic - 4 bulbs
- Potatoes - 10 kilograms
- Red lentils - 3 kilograms
- Chickpeas - 12 cans
- Diced tomatoes - 12 cans
- Vegetable stock - 3 boxes
- Coconut milk - 6 cans
- Spinach - 3 kilograms
- Zucchini - 10 pieces
- Mushrooms - 3 kilogram
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Cumin - 1 jar
- Curry powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Salt - 1 kilogram
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 2 liters
- Sunflower oil - 2 liters
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Yogurt - 5 kilograms
- Muesli - 4 kilograms
- Oatmeal - 3 kilograms
- Raisins - 1 kilogram
- Walnuts - 1 kilogram
- Vegetable soup - 8 liters
- Pasta - 5 kilogram
- Pasta sauce - 6 liters
- Grated cheese - 2 kilogram
- Green salad - 5 kilograms
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Salted crackers - 6 packs
- Dark chocolate - 2 kilograms
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 bottles
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 50 pieces
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
- Tealights - 100 pieces
- Matches - 4 boxes
- Hand soap - 4 bottles

Sleeping gear

Sleeping matsqty 45
Blanketsqty 45
Cushionsqty 45
Towelsqty 45

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Bucketsqty 4
Mopsqty 4
Broom setsqty 3
Dustpan and brushqty 3
Washing-up bowlsqty 4
Spongesqty 12
Rubber glovesqty 6
Hand soap dispensersqty 4
Toilet brushesqty 4

Tips

Plan tableware for the full group plus at least 10% extra: plates, bowls, mugs, glasses and cutlery disappear quickly when some items are still being washed. Count breakfast plates separately if breakfast is served in a different room or time slot.
For a self-catered weekend, buy enough bread for every breakfast and keep a separate bread cutting board available. Check dietary requirements before ordering groceries, not after the food has been collected.
Allow 2–3 hot drinks per person during the first shared morning, then add extra coffee, tea and hot water for breaks. Prepare at least one kettle or coffee machine for every 20–25 participants so people are not waiting in one queue.
Pack serving spoons, trays with lids, water jugs and thermos flasks even when the venue has basic kitchen equipment. These are easy to overlook and are especially useful when meals or drinks must be moved between rooms.
Test portable speakers, microphones, stands, audio cables, extension cords and power strips before the weekend. Bring at least one spare audio cable and keep power strips away from areas where participants walk or sleep.

Frequently asked questions

What food should I buy for a Taizé weekend?: Buy food for every planned meal, breakfast, drink break and any late-evening snack, using the confirmed registration list and dietary requirements. Place the main grocery order 3–5 days before the weekend and check fresh produce again when it is collected.
How many plates and mugs do I need for a Taizé weekend?: Count one dinner plate, one breakfast plate, one bowl, one mug, one drinking glass and one full set of cutlery per participant, then add about 10% spare. For 40 participants, that means roughly 44 of each regularly used item.
How much coffee and tea do I need for a weekend retreat?: For the first morning, allow 2–3 hot drinks per person, then estimate another 1–2 drinks per person for each later break. Buy extra tea, coffee, milk and sugar because hot drinks are often served throughout the day, not only at breakfast.
When should I prepare the Taizé weekend supplies?: Check the venue’s furniture, kitchenware and audio equipment 7 days before arrival. Order groceries 3–5 days ahead, collect fresh items on the day before or the day of the weekend, and chill drinks before participants arrive.

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