Is this too many people for Christmas?

[thebradybunch]

We are hosting Christmas for the first time this year. Just us (family of 5, small child, toddler and newborn), our parents, siblings and their kids. However both our families are big and everyone has said they're coming.

This means we've got 18 adults, 10 children and 4 babies

For context we are all really close, and our families are all friends so that's not an issue. Also everyone will bring a dish so I won't be the only one cooking. I'm worried about how we will accommodate everyone and it not feel like chaos though.

I was planning on having them all come over at 2.30pm. Any tips on how to organise the day? I'm being massively thrown in the deep end here so need some advice from seasoned professionals!

• Our house isn't huge but it isn't small either. Our kitchen table can sit 10 people at a squeeze.
• We have a decent sized playroom for the kids with a big TV in it.
• Living room sofas and chairs can probably sit 10 people.

Hire a marquee for the garden with heating! Borrow paste tables / camping tables and chairs, and everyone has the fun of decorating when they get there!
Use hot pans of water on top of the stove to place plates for keeping food warm or even see if anyone has some old style hostess trolley or the table top version to help! The kids can sort the cutlery and crackers. It could be a lot of fun if done that way!
(NB As long as you don't have a wind tunnel for a garden which could turn the marquee into a sail!)

I thought I'd update you all on this during a quiet moment while I feed my baby to sleep, especially as I had so much helpful advice.

Today has been a HUGE success. I can currently hear the children having a disco in the living room while the adults clear up after Christmas dinner, which was all hot and delicious. Did it with 2 ovens and 2 air friers and a hostess trolly.

Everyone had a seat, everyone brought their dish, everyone came on time. Dare I say before the day is over but... it's been stress free!

In case someone stumbles on this thread for next year I did all my prep and cooked my turkey yesterday, got pasting tables and foldable chairs - also set up yesterday. We did the meats and the main things, everyone else brought the other bits.

Hope you've all had as lovely a day as we have, and thanks again for the advice x

I've been wondering how it went

Good on you OP! Sounds like a fabulous day and I've loved the hosting tips and ideas on the thread. Happy Christmas:)

How fabulous.
It definitely works when everyone plays a part and pulls together.
Sounds like you may have started a lovely tradition.

Had 16 last year we have quite a big house. Having 8 this year has been SO much more enjoyable. Any more is just too many. Definitely best to stagger meeting up over the Christmas period if a larger family or it’s just too much work

This is an old post. We decided to go ahead with the huge number of people and had an absolute blast. Heading to bed now and said it's all over - I'll definitely do it again next year.

Of course it’s doable. Personally as a host enjoyed this year far more with half the number of people. It’s just too much and you can’t properly spend quality time with anyone or your own children.

You absolutely can. Nobody arrived until 3pm and I prepped the day before so I had almost the whole day with my children opening presents and playing.

We then had games and dancing with the family who came over and I genuinely feel like I spent quality time with them all. We live near each other too so spend a lot of time together anyway.

I guess it's different for everyone and to each their own. Personally, I loved it.

Thats how I feel about

We had 26 yesterday. Think there’s 20 here at various points today.

i love it and the kids all love it. I was in a quiz team last night with 2 of mine and 2 of my niblings and it was brilliant.

we all spend a lot of time together through the year and I do think that makes a difference. It’s just very natural

@ARichtGoodDram exactly! We also love each others company so it's very natural.

We got up at 7am to clean the house ready to host people for nibbles and drinks today.

The kids love it and so do we