What You Need for a Valentine’s Dinner

A Valentine’s dinner needs more than the main ingredients. Plan for each guest to have a dinner plate, dessert plate, water glass, wine glass and complete cutlery set, then add shared serving pieces and drinks service. Fresh groceries, dessert ingredients and welcome drinks should be bought close to the dinner, while tableware, decorations and equipment can be checked earlier. This list helps you spot the items people most often leave until the final hour.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Dinner tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 32
Buffet tablesqty 2
Bar stoolsqty 4

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 36
Dessert platesqty 36
Soup bowlsqty 36
Water glassesqty 36
Wine glassesqty 36
Coffee cupsqty 36
Dinner cutlery setsqty 36
Serving spoonsqty 8
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving plattersqty 6
Water carafesqty 6
Coffee spoonsqty 36

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 6
Runwaysqty 6
Cloth napkinsqty 36
Name badgesqty 32
Vasesqty 6
Artificial flowersqty 12
Heart-shaped garlandsqty 6
Table decorationsqty 6

Lighting

LED candlesqty 36
String lightsqty 4

Equipment

Bluetooth speaker
Coolersqty 3
Coffee maker
Kettleqty 2

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Frying pansqty 3
Cooking potsqty 4
Baking dishesqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 2
Mixing bowlsqty 4
Kitchen tongsqty 4
Aluminum foilqty 2
Cling filmqty 2

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 3
Bucketsqty 2
Spongesqty 6
Cleaning clothsqty 8
Hand soap dispensersqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Ciabatta loaves - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Roma tomatoes - 4 kilograms
- Red onions - 1 kilogram
- Yellow onions - 2 kilogram
- Garlic - 6 bulbs
- Basil - 8 bunches
- Parsley - 4 bunches
- Arugula - 1 kilogram
- Mixed salad - 2 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Zucchini - 8 pieces
- Mushrooms - 2 kilogram
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Celery - 2 heads
- Potatoes - 6 kilograms
- Pasta - 3 kilograms
- Risotto rice - 2 kilograms
- Chicken breast - 4 kilograms
- Beef sirloin - 3 kilograms
- Tofu - 2 kilograms
- Parmesan cheese - 1 kilogram
- Mozzarella - 1,5 kilogram
- Feta - 750 gram
- Cream - 3 liter
- Butter - 1 kilogram
- Eggs - 30 pieces
- Mascarpone - 2 kilogram
- Dark chocolate - 1,5 kilogram
- Whipped cream - 2 liters
- Strawberries - 3 kilograms
- Raspberries - 1 kilogram
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Balsamic vinegar - 2 bottles
- Olive oil - 3 bottles
- Sunflower oil - 1 bottle
- Tomato paste - 6 cans
- Vegetable broth - 8 liters
- Chicken broth - 5 liters
- Beef stock - 3 liters
- Pine nuts - 500 grams
- Walnuts - 750 grams
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 2 jars
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Chili flakes - 1 jar
- Honey - 1 jar
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Brown bread - 4 loaves
- Chips - 8 bags
- Mixed nuts - 1 kilogram
- Olives - 6 jars
- Spa Blauw - 6 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Orange juice - 4 liters
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Alcohol-Free Sparkling Wine - 6 bottles
- Prosecco - 8 bottles
- Red wine - 6 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Ice cubes - 8 kilograms
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 pack
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls

Tips

Count tableware by guest before shopping: allow one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one water glass, one wine glass and one cutlery set per person, plus a few extras.
Buy fresh vegetables and other refrigerated ingredients 1 day before dinner where possible. Keep non-perishable ingredients and serving supplies separate so they are easy to check.
Plan drinks by service, not just by bottle: chill wine and welcome drinks at least 4 hours ahead, and keep water carafes filled before guests arrive.
Check the dessert, sauce and dressing ingredients before starting preparation. These smaller components are easy to miss when the main dinner shopping is already done.
Test the coffee maker, kettle, Bluetooth speaker, LED candles and string lights 2 hours before dinner. Confirm that you also have enough coffee cups and coffee spoons for everyone who wants coffee.

Frequently asked questions

How much tableware do I need for a Valentine’s dinner?: Allow one dinner plate, dessert plate, water glass, wine glass and cutlery set per guest. Add at least 2 extra place settings if you expect breakage, spills or an unconfirmed guest.
When should I buy fresh food for a Valentine’s dinner?: Buy fresh vegetables and other short-life ingredients 1 day before the dinner. Prepare dessert, sauces and dressings according to the recipe, but avoid cutting vegetables too early if they will lose texture.
How many drinks should I buy for the first hour?: Plan for 2 to 3 drinks per person during the first hour, including the welcome drink. Add water for the whole meal and chill the drinks at least 4 hours before guests arrive.
When should I check the Valentine’s dinner shopping list?: Do a full inventory 2 to 3 days before the dinner, then check fresh groceries again the day before. Recheck tableware, serving platters, carafes, coffee supplies and decorations before setup starts.

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