Mes Invités What budget for a wedding of 30 people?
For 30 guests, the benchmarks published in France range from about 3 600 € à 6 450 €, or €120 to €215 per guest depending on the method. Several general sources fall between €3.600 and €4.500; 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 30 guests
| Guideline | Per guest | For 30 guests |
|---|---|---|
| General sources (editorial guide, specialist magazine, opinion survey) | 120 à 150 € | 3 600 € à 4 500 € |
| Mainstream banking guide | 150 à 200 € | 4 500 € à 6 000 € |
| Specialist platform, its own couples | 215 € | 6 450 € |
Five ways to build the budget
| Package | Calculation | Budget | Per guest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic, homemade | 2 000 € + 30 × 70 € | 4 100 € | 137 € |
| Budget-friendly with professionals | 4 000 € + 30 × 95 € | 6 850 € | 228 € |
| Standard | 6 000 € + 30 × 120 € | 9 600 € | 320 € |
| Comfort | 11 000 € + 30 × 200 € | 17 000 € | 567 € |
| Premium | 18 000 € + 30 × 300 € | 27 000 € | 900 € |
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 30 people
| Service | Per person | For 30 people |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared menu, takeaway or delivered | 15 à 35 € | 450 € à 1 050 € |
| Cold buffet | 18 à 40 € | 540 € à 1 200 € |
| Simple sit-down meal | 30 à 55 € | 900 € à 1 650 € |
| Sit-down meal with service | 45 à 90 € | 1 350 € à 2 700 € |
| Full package: drinks reception, meal, staff, equipment | €70 to €160 and more | 2 100 € à 4 800 € |
For service, plan on 2 to 2 waiters for a sit-down meal. What each price level includes.
Drinks for 30 guests
| Drink | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Sparkling wine, 2-hour drinks reception | 6 bottles |
| 33 cl beers | 13 bottles |
| Wine, drinks reception | 2 bottles |
| Wine at dinner | 11 bottles |
| Sparkling wine with dessert | 4 bottles |
| Water | 30 to 38 litres |
| Soft drinks and juices | 14 to 18 litres |
These are stock quantities, not consumption targets. The method and the calculator.
Canapés for 30 guests
| Cocktail reception | Pieces per person | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour, then a full dinner | 5 à 7 | 150 à 210 |
| 2 hours, then a full dinner | 9 à 12 | 270 à 360 |
| Finger-food reception | 16 à 24 | 480 à 720 |
The venue
For 30 guests, allow 30 to 39 m² for a seated dinner, and 39 to 54 m² with a dance floor and comfortable circulation. The venue’s legal capacity always takes precedence.
Other sizes: 50 personnes 60 personnes 80 personnes 100 personnes 120 personnes 150 personnes 200 personnes
Frequently asked questions
- What budget for a wedding of 30 people?
- From €3.600 to €6.450 depending on the published sources, or €120 to €215 per guest. Several mainstream benchmarks fall between €3.600 and €4.500. A budget option with professionals is built around €6.850.
- How many bottles for 30 guests?
- About 11 bottles of wine for the dinner, 6 bottles of sparkling for a two-hour drinks reception and 4 for dessert, before any margin.
- How many canapés for 30 guests?
- From 270 to 360 pieces for a two-hour drinks reception followed by a full dinner.
- How much does a caterer cost for 30 people?
- From €900 to €1.650 for a simple sit-down meal, €1.350 to €2.700 with service, and €2.100 to €4.800 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.