Wedding ceremony and reception shopping list

A wedding ceremony and reception needs more than food, flowers and formalwear. You will need separate seating for the ceremony, enough tableware for dinner and dessert, glasses for water, wine and champagne, and equipment for coffee, music and speeches. This shopping list helps you check the practical items before deliveries arrive and guests sit down. Count everything against your final guest list, then add a small buffer for breakages, late additions and staff use.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 10
Chairsqty 90
Ceremony chairsqty 2
High tablesqty 6
Table skirtsqty 10
Party tentsqty 2
Buffet tablesqty 3
Bar stoolsqty 8

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 100
Dessert platesqty 100
Coffee cupsqty 90
Water glassesqty 100
Wine glassesqty 100
Champagne glassesqty 90
Coffee spoonsqty 90
Dinner knivesqty 100
Dinner spoonsqty 100
Dinner forksqty 100
Serving spoonsqty 12
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 8

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Speakersqty 2
Microphone
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Chargersqty 3

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 3
Mixing bowlsqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 2
Frying pansqty 2
Aluminum foilqty 2
Cling filmqty 2
Parchment paperqty 2
Serving plattersqty 12

Decorations

Table runnersqty 10
Flower vasesqty 12
Candle holdersqty 30
LED candlesqty 30
String lightsqty 8
Balloonsqty 100
Balloon ribbonqty 2
Welcome sign
Ring pillow
Photo framesqty 8
Table numbersqty 10
Name badgesqty 90
Ceremony programsqty 90
Thank-you cardsqty 90

Lighting

Outdoor lightsqty 6
LED spotlightsqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Vacuum cleaner
Mopsqty 2
Bucketsqty 2
Cleaning glovesqty 6

Catering

Groceries
- Champagne - 12 bottles
- Prosecco - 6 bottles
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Red wine - 12 bottles
- Rosé wine - 6 bottles
- Beer - 120 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Cola - 12 liters
- Cola Zero - 12 liters
- Orange soda - 8 liters
- Iced tea - 8 liters
- Spa Blauw - 48 liters
- Spa Rood - 24 liters
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Orange juice - 6 liters
- Ginger beer - 4 liters
- Coffee - 2 kilograms
- Tea - 120 bags
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Lemon - 2 kilogram
- Mint - 6 bunches
- Ice cubes - 20 kilograms
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilogram
- Cream cheese - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Olives - 2 kilograms
- Grapes - 4 kilograms
- Strawberries - 4 kilogram
- Melon - 4 pieces
- Cucumber - 3 kilograms
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Bell peppers - 2 kilograms
- Mixed salad - 3 kilograms
- Potatoes - 10 kilograms
- Rice - 5 kilograms
- Pasta - 5 kilogram
- Chicken breast - 8 kilogram
- Salmon fillet - 5 kilograms
- Vegetarian burgers - 20 pieces
- Vegetable burgers - 20 pieces
- Eggs - 30 pieces
- Cooking cream - 4 liters
- Tomato sauce - 4 liters
- Pesto - 1 kilogram
- Mayonnaise - 2 liter
- Ketchup - 2 liters
- Mustard - 1 liter
- Garlic sauce - 1 liter
- Barbecue sauce - 1 liter
- Olive oil - 2 liters
- Sunflower oil - 2 liters
- Salt - 500 grams
- Pepper - 250 gram
- Paprika powder - 250 gram
- Italian herbs - 150 grams
- Basil - 6 bunches
- Parsley - 6 bunches
- Parmesan cheese - 1 kilogram
- Grated cheese - 2 kilogram
- Herb butter - 1 kilogram
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Mixed nuts - 2 kilograms
- Salty sticks - 4 bags
- Mini quiches - 120 pieces
- Mini wraps - 120 pieces
- Stuffed eggs - 80 pieces
- Bitterballen - 160 pieces
- Vegetarian snacks - 80 pieces
- Sausage rolls - 80 pieces
- Wedding cake - 1 cake
- Whipped cream - 2 liters
- Cookies - 4 kilograms
- Chocolates - 3 kilograms
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper straws - 150 pieces
- Cocktail picks - 200 pieces
- Disposable gloves - 2 boxes
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 60 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 12 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Trash bags - 50 pieces

Tips

Count each place setting separately: one dinner plate, dessert plate, dinner fork, knife and spoon per guest, plus at least 10% extra. If 100 guests are attending, prepare 110 of each core item.
Plan glasses by service rather than by guest alone. For a 100-person reception, 110 water and wine glasses is a useful minimum; add champagne glasses for every planned toast, with another 10% if they will be reused slowly.
Keep ceremony seating separate from reception seating. Confirm the number of ceremony chairs first, then check whether reception tables, chairs, high tables, table skirts and bar stools are included in the delivery or must be sourced separately.
Test the technical setup at the venue at least 24 hours before the ceremony. Check the speakers and microphone, then bring enough extension cords, power strips and chargers to reach the ceremony and reception areas safely.
Coffee service is easy to overlook after dinner. Match the number of coffee cups and spoons to the guest count, and test the coffee machines and kettles before the event; for 100 guests, have capacity for at least 100 servings without a long queue.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and glasses do I need for a wedding reception?: Start with one dinner plate and one dessert plate per guest, then add 10% for breakages and replacements. For 100 guests, that means 110 dinner plates, 110 dessert plates and usually 110 water and wine glasses if each item is collected and washed between services.
What tableware is needed for a wedding dinner?: For each guest, plan a dinner plate, dessert plate, dinner fork, dinner knife and dinner spoon. Add serving spoons, serving platters and serving tongs for every buffet or shared dish, and check the menu before ordering specialist items.
When should wedding equipment deliveries arrive?: Arrange furniture, tableware and catering equipment to arrive at least one full day before the ceremony where possible. Schedule a technical check of speakers, the microphone, extension cords and power strips at least 24 hours beforehand.
How much coffee equipment do I need for a wedding?: Plan at least one coffee serving per guest after the meal, plus extra capacity for suppliers and second cups. For 100 guests, prepare 110 coffee cups and spoons and use coffee machines or kettles that can produce 100 servings without delaying the evening.

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.