What to Buy for a Walima Celebration
A Walima celebration needs more than food and drinks. You also need enough tableware for the meal, dessert, tea and coffee, plus serving pieces, buffet furniture and clear table details. Use your confirmed guest count as the base, then add a small buffer for breakage, spills and unexpected guests. Buy non-perishable items first and leave fresh groceries and chilled drinks until the final one or two days.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Round tablesqty 12
- Buffet tablesqty 6
- Chairsqty 110
- Reception desk
- Coat racksqty 2
- Coat hangersqty 120
- Drink tablesqty 4
- Stoolsqty 8
- Coolersqty 4
- Waste binsqty 8
Tableware
- Dinner platesqty 120
- Dessert platesqty 120
- Soup bowlsqty 120
- Water glassesqty 140
- Tea glassesqty 120
- Coffee cupsqty 120
- Knivesqty 130
- Forksqty 130
- Spoonsqty 130
- Serving plattersqty 24
- Serving spoonsqty 24
- Serving tongsqty 12
- Coffee potsqty 6
- Teapotsqty 4
Decorations
- Tableclothsqty 18
- Table runnersqty 12
- Napkin ringsqty 120
- Artificial flower arrangementsqty 14
- Welcome sign
- Table numbersqty 12
- Menusqty 120
- Name badgesqty 110
- Balloon archesqty 2
- Balloonsqty 250
- Climbing tracksqty 6
- Candlesqty 36
- Candle holdersqty 36
Equipment
- Food warmersqty 12
- Induction hobsqty 4
- Kettlesqty 3
- Coffee machinesqty 3
- Refrigeratorsqty 2
- Extension cordsqty 6
- Power stripsqty 8
- Speakersqty 2
- Microphone
- Mixer
- Laptop
Kitchen
- Cutting boardsqty 8
- Chef's knifeqty 6
- Mixing bowlsqty 8
- Measuring cupsqty 4
- Kitchen tongsqty 8
- Aluminum foilqty 6
- Cling filmqty 6
- Food containersqty 20
Lighting
- LED string lightsqty 8
- LED lampsqty 12
- Battery lanternsqty 6
- Spare batteriesqty 24
Cleaning
- Broomqty 2
- Vacuum cleaner
- Mopsqty 3
- Bucketsqty 3
- Cleaning glovesqty 8
Catering
- Groceries
- Halal chicken breast - 18 kilograms
- Halal chicken drumsticks - 15 kilograms
- Halal lamb - 12 kilogram
- Basmati rice - 18 kilogram
- Chickpeas - 6 cans
- Lentils - 4 kilograms
- Onions - 8 kilograms
- Garlic - 1 kilogram
- Ginger - 1 kilogram
- Tomatoes - 10 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 8 kilograms
- Carrots - 6 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 6 kilograms
- Eggplants - 5 kilograms
- Zucchinis - 5 kilograms
- Cauliflower - 5 kilogram
- Spinach - 4 kilogram
- Coriander - 12 bunches
- Coins - 8 bunches
- Parsley - 8 bunches
- Lemons - 8 kilograms
- Limes - 4 kilograms
- Greek yogurt - 8 kilograms
- Cooking cream - 6 liters
- Butter - 3 kilograms
- Sunflower oil - 5 liter
- Olive oil - 3 liters
- Tomato paste - 12 cans
- Coconut milk - 8 cans
- Bouillon cubes - 4 boxes
- Salt - 2 kilograms
- Black pepper - 500 grams
- Cumin - 500 grams
- Coriander powder - 500 grams
- Turmeric - 400 grams
- Paprika powder - 500 grams
- Cinnamon - 250 gram
- Cardamom - 250 grams
- Garam masala - 500 grams
- Chili powder - 250 grams
- Bay leaves - 100 gram
- Raisins - 2 kilograms
- Almonds - 2 kilograms
- Cashews - 2 kilogram
- Naan bread - 120 pieces
- Pita bread - 100 pieces
- Hummus - 8 kilograms
- Tahini - 3 kilogram
- Garlic sauce - 4 liters
- Chili sauce - 3 liters
- Mayonnaise - 4 liters
- Ketchup - 3 liters
- Mixed lettuce - 8 kilograms
- Olives - 4 kilograms
- Pickles - 3 kilogram
- Feta cheese - 4 kilogram
- Apples - 8 kilograms
- Grapes - 8 kilograms
- Bananas - 6 kilograms
- Melons - 5 pieces
- Dates - 4 kilograms
- Baklava - 8 kilograms
- Vanilla ice cream - 12 liter
- Whipped cream - 6 liter
- Cake - 2 large cakes
- Cookies - 6 kilograms
- Coffee - 3 kilograms
- Black tea - 4 boxes
- Herbal tea - 3 boxes
- Sugar - 5 kilograms
- Milk - 15 liter
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Spa Blue - 12 crates
- Spa Red - 6 crates
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- 7UP - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 liters
- Orange juice - 8 liters
- Mango juice - 6 liters
- Mint lemonade - 8 liters
- Ice cubes - 25 kilogram
- Paprika chips - 3 kilograms
- Plain chips - 3 kilograms
- Salted peanuts - 2 kilogram
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 80 pcs
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Toilet cleaner - 3 bottles
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Hand gel - 4 bottles
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 20 pieces
- Aluminum trays - 120 pieces
- Food containers - 40 pieces
Tips
- Count dinner plates, dessert plates and soup bowls separately: plan one per guest for each course, then add 10% extra. This prevents a shortage when plates cannot be washed during the meal.
- Provide at least two water glasses per guest if you will not have staff clearing tables. Add tea glasses and coffee cups for every guest who is expected to join the after-meal service.
- For a buffet, allow one serving platter or bowl for each main dish and side, plus one serving spoon or pair of tongs per dish. Keep a few spare serving utensils ready for dropped or mixed-up pieces.
- Buy or confirm tablecloths, runners, napkin rings and flower arrangements before the final week. Table numbers and the welcome sign should be printed at least three days before the celebration.
- Chill drinks several hours before guests arrive and keep backup coolers available. Check dietary requirements and allergens against the final menu before buying fresh ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
- How many plates do I need for a Walima celebration?
- Plan one dinner plate and one dessert plate per guest, plus 10% extra. If soup is served, provide one soup bowl per guest and keep a few additional bowls available for breakage or seconds.
- How many glasses and cups should I buy for a Walima?
- Allow two water glasses per guest when tables will not be cleared during the meal. For tea and coffee, prepare one tea glass and one coffee cup per expected drinker, with about 10% extra.
- When should I buy supplies for a Walima celebration?
- Buy non-perishable tableware, decorations and serving equipment one to two weeks ahead. Purchase fresh groceries one to two days before the event, and chill drinks several hours before guests arrive.
- How much extra tableware should I get for a Walima?
- Add 10% to your guest count for plates, bowls, glasses and cups. For a large gathering, round up to the next full pack so you have enough for breakage, spills and unexpected guests.
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