Mes Invités What budget for a wedding of 120 people?
For 120 guests, the benchmarks published in France range from about 14 400 € à 25 800 €, or €120 to €215 per guest depending on the method. Several general sources fall between €14.400 and €18.000; surveys by specialist platforms go higher. The caterer and the venue account for a little over half.
Updated on 7 October 2026
What the sources say for 120 guests
| Guideline | Per guest | For 120 guests |
|---|---|---|
| General sources (editorial guide, specialist magazine, opinion survey) | 120 à 150 € | 14 400 € à 18 000 € |
| Mainstream banking guide | 150 à 200 € | 18 000 € à 24 000 € |
| Specialist platform, its own couples | 215 € | 25 800 € |
Five ways to build the budget
| Package | Calculation | Budget | Per guest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic, homemade | 2 000 € + 120 × 70 € | 10 400 € | 87 € |
| Budget-friendly with professionals | 4 000 € + 120 × 95 € | 15 400 € | 128 € |
| Standard | 6 000 € + 120 × 120 € | 20 400 € | 170 € |
| Comfort | 11 000 € + 120 × 200 € | 35 000 € | 292 € |
| Premium | 18 000 € + 120 × 300 € | 54 000 € | 450 € |
These budgets are building benchmarks, not averages: they serve to check that an envelope is consistent with the list and the level of service.
The caterer for 120 people
| Service | Per person | For 120 people |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared menu, takeaway or delivered | 15 à 35 € | 1 800 € à 4 200 € |
| Cold buffet | 18 à 40 € | 2 160 € à 4 800 € |
| Simple sit-down meal | 30 à 55 € | 3 600 € à 6 600 € |
| Sit-down meal with service | 45 à 90 € | 5 400 € à 10 800 € |
| Full package: drinks reception, meal, staff, equipment | €70 to €160 and more | 8 400 € à 19 200 € |
For service, plan on 5 to 6 waiters for a sit-down meal. What each price level includes.
Drinks for 120 guests
| Drink | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Sparkling wine, 2-hour drinks reception | 21 bottles |
| 33 cl beers | 51 bottles |
| Wine, drinks reception | 6 bottles |
| Wine at dinner | 41 bottles |
| Sparkling wine with dessert | 14 bottles |
| Water | 120 to 150 litres |
| Soft drinks and juices | 54 to 72 litres |
These are stock quantities, not consumption targets. The method and the calculator.
Canapés for 120 guests
| Cocktail reception | Pieces per person | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour, then a full dinner | 5 à 7 | 600 à 840 |
| 2 hours, then a full dinner | 9 à 12 | 1 080 à 1 440 |
| Finger-food reception | 16 à 24 | 1 920 à 2 880 |
The venue
For 120 guests, allow 120 to 156 m² for a seated dinner, and 156 to 216 m² with a dance floor and comfortable circulation. The venue’s legal capacity always takes precedence.
Other sizes: 30 personnes 50 personnes 60 personnes 80 personnes 100 personnes 150 personnes 200 personnes
Frequently asked questions
- What budget for a wedding of 120 people?
- From €14.400 to €25.800 depending on the published sources, or €120 to €215 per guest. Several mainstream benchmarks fall between €14.400 and €18.000. A budget option with professionals is built around €15.400.
- How many bottles for 120 guests?
- About 41 bottles of wine for the dinner, 21 bottles of sparkling for a two-hour drinks reception and 14 for dessert, before any margin.
- How many canapés for 120 guests?
- From 1.080 to 1.440 pieces for a two-hour drinks reception followed by a full dinner.
- How much does a caterer cost for 120 people?
- From €3.600 to €6.600 for a simple sit-down meal, €5.400 to €10.800 with service, and €8.400 to €19.200 for a full package with drinks reception, staff and equipment.
Sources and method
- Mainstream editorial guide: benchmark of €12.000 for 100 guests.
- Specialist magazine, article from February 2026: €13.500 for 100 guests.
- Representative opinion survey published in 2026: budget imagined by 1.045 representative French people.
- Mainstream banking guide, May 2026: range of €13.500 to €20.000 for 80 to 100 guests.
- 2026 report from a specialist wedding platform: spending declared by 1.304 couples married in 2025 through that platform, excluding the honeymoon and engagement ring.
- Rates published by suppliers and local authorities, recorded on 7 October 2026: publicly displayed prices, by duration, type of venue and level of service; suppliers are not named.
- Records from a wedding caterer in business since 2012: benchmarks for preparation and service.
Private studies and guides are described without being named; public bodies are cited with their link.
Each figure is labelled: Official public statistic; Observed expenses declared after the wedding; Survey declared intentions or estimates; Market price ranges seen among suppliers; Calculation calculated preparation benchmark, not a statistic.
These are orders of magnitude for mainland France. A local quote always takes precedence, and a price per person only makes sense if you know what it includes. Last updated: 7 October 2026.