A corporate cocktail reception for 20 people costs €627 excl. VAT delivered with 8 canapés (L'Invitation, a drinks reception), €847 excl. VAT with 12 canapés and €1,067 excl. VAT with 16 canapés, the dinner reception format that replaces dinner. The price per person does not fall as the headcount rises: the saving comes from the format, the confirmed headcount, the delivery and the extras, not from the price per canapé.

What is the price per person of an affordable dinner reception?

The cheapest cocktail reception in the catalogue costs €29.90 per person excl. VAT for 8 canapés, the most complete €51.90 excl. VAT for 16 canapés, plus €29 excl. VAT delivery per order in Paris and nearby towns. The cost per canapé falls as the package grows, from €3.74 to €3.24.

PackageCanapés per personPrice per person excl. VATCost per canapé excl. VATHonest use
L'Invitation8€29.90€3.74Drinks lasting 1.5 to 2 hours, does not replace a meal
La Réception12€40.90€3.41Lunch reception, or an evening starting at 7 pm
La Célébration16€51.90€3.24Dinner reception, replaces dinner

The selections are on the corporate cocktail receptions page.

Should you take 16 canapés to pay less per canapé?

No: going from 8 to 16 canapés lowers the price per canapé by €0.50 but adds €1,100 excl. VAT for 50 people (2,595 minus 1,495). Choose the number of canapés according to the time: 8 before a dinner, 12 if the evening starts at 7 pm, 16 only if nobody is having dinner elsewhere. The total is what counts, not the price per canapé.

How much does a cocktail reception for 20 and 50 people cost, delivery included?

For 20 people, the budget ranges from €627 to €1,067 excl. VAT with delivery included, for 50 people from €1,524 to €2,624 excl. VAT, drinks not included. The calculation is price per person × headcount + €29 excl. VAT, assuming a single delivery for the whole order.

HeadcountL'Invitation (8 canapés)La Réception (12 canapés)La Célébration (16 canapés)
20 people598 + 29 = €627 (€31.35 per person)818 + 29 = €847 (€42.35)1,038 + 29 = €1,067 (€53.35)
50 people1,495 + 29 = €1,524 (€30.48 per person)2,045 + 29 = €2,074 (€41.48)2,595 + 29 = €2,624 (€52.48)

For 30, 80 or 100 people, see the budget for a corporate cocktail reception in Paris and the guide to the cocktail reception for 50 people.

Is there an affordable corporate caterer, and what should you compare?

The price per person covers the canapés, arranged and delivered ready to set out, the disposable cups, tableware and cutlery, halal and pork-free, at no extra cost. It does not cover delivery, drinks, setting up or collecting equipment. Compare quotes line by line on these items: a low price per person can hide the delivery, the drinks or the equipment.

  • Delivery: €29 excl. VAT per delivery in Paris and nearby towns.
  • Alcohol-free drinks: €167.60 excl. VAT for 20 people, so €8.38 per person excl. VAT (4 Chardonnay 0%, 8 L of juice, 5 waters).
  • Reusable tableware: equipment collection at €19 excl. VAT on top of delivery, tableware priced on a quote.
  • Entertainment: minimum of €600 excl. VAT.

Where can you really save on a corporate cocktail reception?

Four levers lower the budget for a corporate cocktail reception: the format, the headcount, the delivery and the extras. The format weighs the most, up to €1,100 excl. VAT for 50 people; the first three levers change nothing your guests will see.

  • The format: 8 canapés instead of 16 save €22 per person excl. VAT, so €1,100 excl. VAT for 50 people, if your guests have dinner afterwards or if the timing suits, for example 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
  • The headcount: each person fewer takes off €29.90 excl. VAT with 8 canapés. The 10% margin costs €149.50 excl. VAT for 50 people (5 × 29.90); with a named list confirmed the day before, it is unnecessary.
  • The delivery: three after-work drinks for 20 people grouped into one for 60 save €58 excl. VAT (€1,881 against €1,823). Drinks ordered with the canapés go in the same delivery; ordered separately, they add €29 excl. VAT.
  • The extras: sparkling drinks at €2.82 a flute, bottled water (€24 excl. VAT for 20 people) and entertainment (€600 excl. VAT minimum) can be removed without touching the menu.

For regular orders, a preferential rate is possible on a quote.

What does the simple version of a cocktail reception for 50 people look like?

For 50 people, the simple version costs €1,643.80 excl. VAT delivered, so €32.88 per person excl. VAT, against €3,028.50 excl. VAT (€60.57 per person) for a full dinner reception with drinks: a difference of €1,384.70 excl. VAT. The simple version is a drinks reception with 8 canapés, with two glasses of infusion per person.

ItemFull dinner receptionSimple version
Canapés50 × 51.90 = €2,595.00 (16 canapés)50 × 29.90 = €1,495.00 (8 canapés)
Drinks9 Chardonnay 0% + 20 L of juice + 13 waters = €404.502 jars of infusion of 10 L = €119.80
Delivery (1 delivery)€29.00€29.00
Total excl. VAT€3,028.50€1,643.80
Per person€60.57€32.88

A 10 L jar of infusion (lime and ginger, or passion fruit) fills 50 glasses of 20 cl for €59.90 excl. VAT, so €1.20 a glass against €1.90 for bottled juice. The simple version assumes a water fountain or water jugs on site.

What dinner reception ideas work at the office when the budget is limited?

Five ideas come in between €6 and €40.90 per person excl. VAT, without going for the full dinner reception at €51.90 excl. VAT. They suit an evening drinks reception with colleagues or a small celebration: choose according to the time and whether your guests have dinner afterwards.

  • The 8-canapé drinks reception at the end of the day, at €29.90 excl. VAT: gougères, pissaladière tartlet, tandoori chicken skewer, mini cheeseburger, all-chocolate tartlet.
  • The sharing menu at €34.90 excl. VAT (Le Jardin, vegetarian), €37.50 (Le Méditerranéen) or €37.90 (Le Parisien): with Le Jardin, €850 excl. VAT less than La Célébration for 50 people. See the sharing menus.
  • La Réception with 12 canapés at €40.90 excl. VAT for an evening starting at 7 pm: €550 excl. VAT less than 16 canapés for 50 people.
  • The afternoon break from €6 per person excl. VAT for a light celebration: 120 + 29 = €149 excl. VAT for 20 people.
  • The appetiser platters (mini baguettes, club sandwiches, wraps, aged cheeses, halal pork-free charcuterie) are priced on a quote: ask for the price to compare.

For full after-work drinks with entertainment, see our corporate after-work drinks ideas.

Which common mistakes should you avoid when you want an affordable cocktail reception?

Five mistakes push up the budget for a cocktail reception without improving it: they cost from €29 excl. VAT, a separate delivery, to €1,100 excl. VAT, choosing 16 canapés rather than 8 for 50 people. Spotting them before ordering is the cheapest lever.

  • Comparing the price per canapé rather than the total: 16 canapés cost €1,100 excl. VAT more for 50 people.
  • Cutting the quantities of a dinner reception: with 8 canapés, a standing dinner leaves guests hungry. Change the format.
  • Counting the invited guests rather than the confirmed ones: each extra person costs €29.90 excl. VAT.
  • Delivering the drinks separately: €29 excl. VAT more in delivery.
  • Adding entertainment without removing canapés: the entertainment replaces part of the menu, ask what can be taken out.

What are the frequently asked questions about an affordable dinner reception?

How much does an affordable dinner reception for 20 people cost?

For 20 people, the cheapest cocktail reception costs €598 excl. VAT with 8 canapés, so €627 excl. VAT with the €29 excl. VAT delivery. With 12 canapés, allow €847 excl. VAT delivered, and with 16 canapés, a true dinner reception, €1,067 excl. VAT delivered. Drinks are extra.

What is the price of one corporate canapé?

A canapé works out at €3.74 excl. VAT with L'Invitation (€29.90 for 8 canapés), €3.41 excl. VAT with La Réception (€40.90 for 12) and €3.24 excl. VAT with La Célébration (€51.90 for 16). The largest package is the cheapest per canapé, but the most expensive in total.

How many canapés should you plan for a dinner reception?

A dinner reception that replaces dinner needs 16 to 18 canapés per person. Drinks lasting an hour and a half to two hours need only 6 to 8 canapés, a lunch reception 12 to 14. To keep to a tight budget, change the format rather than cutting the quantities.

How can you reduce the budget for a corporate cocktail reception?

Four levers: choose 8 canapés rather than 16 if the timing allows (€22 excl. VAT less per person), order on the confirmed headcount, group drinks and canapés in a single €29 excl. VAT delivery, and remove extras such as entertainment, which starts at €600 excl. VAT.

Is delivery included in the price per person?

No. Delivery is added: €29 excl. VAT per delivery in Paris and nearby towns, whatever the headcount. Other areas are priced on a quote. Disposable cups, tableware and cutlery are included at no extra cost; reusable tableware means €19 excl. VAT for collecting the equipment.

Is the cocktail reception halal and alcohol-free?

Yes, by default: the whole menu is halal and pork-free, alcohol-free and at no extra cost. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are specified when ordering, with the number of guests concerned. The kitchen handles flour, so traces of gluten remain possible.

How do you get a price for your cocktail reception?

Give the date, address, time, confirmed headcount and dietary needs: the quote comes back within 24 hours, with company invoicing and VAT. Order until 2 pm the day before, 48 hours' notice recommended from 50 people. Request your quote for a price based on your headcount. L'Écrin Traiteur prices, October 2026.