I’d make it a bring a plate event.

Get as much stuff done in advance as possible! Perhaps work out a meal plan (pre-meal snacks and refreshments, what meals and sides to have etc.), and then see if your guests can each contribute a dish. With food you are preparing, find dishes that can be prepared in advance and frozen, to be defrosted closer to the date. Aim to have little or no food preparation on the day, as you will find that time gets away from you very quickly. Also, make sure you will have sufficient fridge space to store everything (a tub filled with ice on the day makes a great drink storer, freeing up space in the fridge). On the day, try and relax and enjoy yourself! If things don’t go quite to plan, don’t worry about it! If you’re lucky, it will make a funny story to tell later

The wonderful thing about Christmas in our climate is that cold meats and salads are a great choice. Prepare salads in advance, carve ham chicken Turkey. Buy some nice breads. Have a smorgasbord rather than serving. Most importantly relax and enjoy yourself. Merry Christmas

I always prepare in advance. You could make some salads the day before such as rice salad, pasta salad, potato salad. You could marinade meats the day before as well. Even set the table, make some yummy treats.

Use frozen potatoes, like we did last year. People commented how nice they were! Saves you from prepping & cooking lots of potatoes, and they taste good!

Get some to bring salad, some to bring dessert and some to bring a chicken, turkey, ham and you supply the dinner plates and cutlery. AND buy the ice for drink. DONT DO IT ALL YOURSELF.

If you have young children I suggest you state what time the party is finishing. Children have a habit of getting up early Christmas morning even if they go to bed late…..and you have to do your chores etc. (if you get my drift) before they get up or you will get no sleep at all to enjoy the fun with them.
One year neighbours who had no children had a party a couple of houses. After midnight the party got pretty rowdy and all the neighbours’ kids woke up and wanted to get up. Luckily the parents were able to settle their kids down quickly or the spell would have been broken all too soon. One of the other neighbours went and asked them to quieten it down a bit.
Have fun but please don’t spoil it for others. I hope you have a happy unstressful party.

If you have a baby bath or even better a kiddy pool then fill it with ice and everyone can pop their drinks in it instead of opening the fridge a million times and taking up space with drinks.
Make finger foods before hand and have them already plated in the fridge and covered with glad wrap.
Have plenty of paper napkins and have them scattered all over the place and not just in one location.

I’d try to do a lot of work before and freeze. Of course there are things that you can just do at the last moment, hopefully not too many. Make it easy, don’t cook complicated meals or that you need to be attended to for long periods of time. I wish you it will turn out great!!

I’d get evey one to bring a different dish of good that way you will have plenty if food an you won’t have to stress bout making it all