Dinner cocktail reception for 50 people: how many canapés and what budget?
For 50 people: 16 to 18 canapés each, so 800 to 900. La Célébration comes to €2,795.50 excl. VAT with drinks and delivery at L'Écrin Traiteur.
At L'Écrin Traiteur, a dinner cocktail reception for 50 people takes 16 to 18 canapés per person, so 800 to 900 pieces. L'Écrin Traiteur's La Célébration package, 16 canapés at €51.90 excl. VAT per person, comes to €2,795.50 excl. VAT with juice, water and delivery, that is €55.91 excl. VAT per person.
How many canapés for a dinner cocktail reception for 50 people?
A dinner reception replaces dinner: allow at least 16 pieces per person, 18 if the evening runs past three hours. For 50 guests, that makes 800 pieces. La Célébration has 12 savoury and 4 sweet pieces per person, so 600 savoury and 200 sweet. The savoury goes first, the sweet closes the evening.
How long does a dinner cocktail reception last?
Allow two and a half to three hours. The 16 canapés of La Célébration are sized for that length: about one piece every ten minutes, with a peak in the first hour. Beyond three hours, move to 18 pieces per person by adding savoury canapés to the quote.
What budget for each package?
The table counts the canapés, the alcohol-free drinks (1 litre of juice for 4 people, one 75 cl bottle of water for 5) and one delivery at €29 excl. VAT.
| Package | Canapés | Savoury / sweet | Delivered total excl. VAT | Per person excl. VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L'Invitation (8 per person) | 400 | 300 / 100 | €1,695.50 | €33.91 |
| La Réception (12 per person) | 600 | 450 / 150 | €2,245.50 | €44.91 |
| La Célébration (16 per person) | 800 | 600 / 200 | €2,795.50 | €55.91 |
L'Invitation, with 8 canapés, suits drinks of an hour and a half, not a dinner. La Réception, with 12, works for a short evening after a lunch: €550.00 less than La Célébration. For a smaller group, see the dinner cocktail reception for 30 people.
The La Célébration budget in detail
| Item | Quantity | Total excl. VAT |
|---|---|---|
| La Célébration, 16 canapés at €51.90 per person | 50 people | €2,595.00 |
| Juice (orange and apple), 1 L for 4 people | 13 L | €123.50 |
| Water, one 75 cl bottle for 5 people | 10 | €48.00 |
| Delivery | 1 | €29.00 |
| Total without 0% Chardonnay | €2,795.50 | |
| Option: 0% Chardonnay, 1 flute per person (75 cl bottle at €16.90) | 9 bottles | €152.10 |
| Total with 0% Chardonnay | €2,947.60 |
The package price per person does not change with headcount. Only the delivery and the opened bottles spread better as the group grows.
What if the headcount changes?
Each guest adds €51.90 excl. VAT of canapés, and drinks follow in steps. At 45 people the same reception comes to €2,521.70 excl. VAT; at 55 people, €3,069.30 excl. VAT. Confirm the headcount two days ahead, adding 10% if last-minute guests are possible.
Which drinks should you plan for 50 people?
Allow 13 litres of juice (orange and apple), 10 bottles of 75 cl water and, as an option, 9 bottles of 0% Chardonnay for the toast, one flute per person. The menu is alcohol-free. The guide how many drinks per person sets out the rules.
How should you organise service for 50 people?
- Two buffet points rather than one: at 50, a single table creates a queue.
- Savoury in two rounds: half at the start, the rest thirty to forty minutes later.
- Sweet in the last hour, with coffee if you serve it.
- One or two maîtres d'hôtel, on quote, to restock and clear: €250 excl. VAT each for 6 hours. See how many maîtres d'hôtel for an event.
Is the cocktail reception halal and alcohol-free?
The savoury canapés are halal and pork-free, and the menu is alcohol-free, at no extra cost. We do not claim a halal certification issued by a certifying body. The packages have a fixed composition: state vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free needs when you ask for a quote.
How can you reduce the budget?
Confirm the real headcount two days ahead rather than rounding up, and choose the package by time of day, not by headcount. The other levers are in the guide affordable dinner cocktail reception. For a lunchtime reception for 50 people, see company cocktail reception for 50 people.
How do you order?
From 50 people, the order is firm 48 hours before delivery. Ask for a quote within 24 hours, or see the La Célébration package and the other cocktail packages. Delivery in Paris and the Paris region, company invoice with VAT. For a larger group, see the dinner cocktail reception for 80 people.
L'Écrin Traiteur prices, October 2026, in euros excluding VAT. Calculation: canapés, juice, water and one delivery at €29 excl. VAT, Paris and nearby towns. Minimum order €50 excl. VAT.
Frequently asked questions about the dinner cocktail reception for 50 people
How many canapés for a dinner cocktail reception for 50 people?
16 to 18 per person, so 800 to 900 pieces. La Célébration has 16 per person: 800 pieces, of which 600 savoury and 200 sweet.
What budget for a dinner cocktail reception for 50 people?
At L'Écrin Traiteur, €2,795.50 excl. VAT with La Célébration, including juice, water and delivery, that is €55.91 excl. VAT per person. With a 0% Chardonnay for the toast: €2,947.60 excl. VAT.
How many drinks for 50 people?
13 litres of juice, 10 bottles of 75 cl water and, as an option, 9 bottles of 0% Chardonnay, one flute per person. The menu is alcohol-free.
How far ahead should you order for 50 people?
From 50 people, the order is firm 48 hours before delivery. Ask for the quote two to three weeks ahead to settle the package and dietary needs.
Do you need a maître d'hôtel for 50 people?
It is not required: the canapés arrive arranged. To restock and clear, allow 1 to 2 maîtres d'hôtel, at €250 excl. VAT each for 6 hours.
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