Mes Invités The price of a wedding caterer
“Wedding caterer” can mean a delivered menu, a buffet, a seated meal or a complete reception with staff, tableware and drinks. In 2026, the listed prices range from €15 to €35 per person for a menu only, from €30 to €55 for a simple sit-down meal, and from €70 to €160 and more for a full service.
Updated on 7 October 2026
Comparing these amounts without looking at what they include creates differences that don’t exist. Always read a “from” price together with the list of what is included.
Prices by what is included
| Service | Advertised prices per person | Included or not |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared menu, takeaway or delivered | 15,50 à 35 € | Often without staff, drinks, tableware or set-up |
| Cold or country-style buffet | 18 à 40 € | The service may be absent or optional |
| Simple wedding sit-down meal | €30 to €49, up to €55 | Some offers include tablecloths, tableware and service |
| More elaborate sit-down meal, with service | €45 to €80, up to €90 | Check cocktail, dessert, staff and drinks |
| Full package, high-end | €80 to €160 and more | Cocktail, meal, service, sometimes drinks and equipment: a basket, not a menu |
In short: menu only €15 to €35, entry-level buffet €18 to €40, simple sit-down meal €30 to €55, sit-down meal with service €45 to €90, full package €70 to €160 and more.
The drinks reception and the cocktail
| Service | Advertised price per person |
|---|---|
| Drinks reception, 14 pieces | 18 € |
| Dinner cocktail, 20 pieces with live stations | €30 without drinks, €35 with |
| Finger-food reception | from 35 € |
| According to 2026 guides | buffet-style cocktail dinner 25 to 60 €, buffet 35 to 80 €, single dish 20 to 30 € |
The questions to ask when comparing
| Quote line | Question |
|---|---|
| Cocktail | How many pieces per person, cold, hot, sweet? |
| Meal | How many courses? Cheese, dessert, bread, coffee? |
| Staff | How many people, what hours, what surcharge after midnight? |
| Drinks | Water, soft drinks, wine, sparkling: included or not, and in what quantity? |
| Tableware | Plates, glasses, cutlery, breakages, washing up? |
| Table linen | Tablecloths, napkins, laying and laundry? |
| Logistics | Delivery, mileage, collection, cold and hot? |
| Furniture | Tables, chairs, buffets, high tables? |
| End of service | Clearing, waste sorting, kitchen left clean? |
The staff
| Course | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Simple buffet | 1 waiter for 30 to 40 guests, plus a head waiter |
| Cocktail with trays | 1 for 20 to 30 guests |
| Standard sit-down meal | 1 for 20 to 25 guests |
| High-end service | 1 for 10 to 15 guests |
| Cocktail bar | 1 bartender for 40 to 60 guests |
Two quotes at the same price per person differ if one allows for six hours of service and the other ten. Get the hours and the overtime rate in writing.
Quantities per adult
| Product | Per adult | For 100 adults |
|---|---|---|
| Boneless meat, raw weight | 180 à 220 g | 18 to 22 kg |
| Fish fillet, gross weight | 170 à 220 g | 17 to 22 kg |
| Side dish, starch and vegetables | 250 à 350 g | 25 to 35 kg |
| Bread, meal without a cheese platter | 80 à 100 g | 8 to 10 kg |
| Bread, with cheese or buffet | 100 à 140 g | 10 to 14 kg |
| Cheese course on a plate | 60 à 80 g | 6 to 8 kg |
| Cheese buffet | 90 à 120 g | 9 to 12 kg |
| Croquembouche | 3 choux buns | 300 choux buns |
| Wedding cake | 1 portion, plus 5 to 10% | 105 to 110 servings |
| Coffee | 0.6 to 0.8 cup | 60 to 80 cups |
For a child aged 4 to 10, allow 55 to 70% of an adult portion. Teenagers count as adults.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a wedding caterer cost per person?
- It all depends on what’s included: 15 to 35 € for a prepared menu to take away or delivered, 18 to 40 € for a cold buffet, 30 to 55 € for a simple seated meal, 45 to 90 € for a seated meal with service, and 70 to 160 € and more for a full service with cocktail, meal, staff and equipment.
- Does a seated wedding meal start at 75 €?
- No. Some caterers advertise sit-down wedding menus at between €30 and €49 per person, sometimes with tablecloths, tableware and service included.
- How much does a drinks reception cost?
- About €18 per person for 14 pieces from a caterer who publishes their prices. A stand-up dinner reception costs €25 to €60 per person depending on the format.
- How many waiters do you need?
- About one waiter for 20 to 25 guests for a standard sit-down meal, one for 30 to 40 for a simple buffet.
Sources and method
- 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.
- Specialist magazine, article from February 2026: €13.500 for 100 guests.
- 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.