Christmas appetisers, starters, hors d'oeuvres - so confused

[Normye]

I’m hosting Christmas for the first time this year. I’m happy with my cocktail, dessert and main menu.

But I’m really confused about starters, hors* *d'oeuvres etc.

I would like to put effort into making something nice people can pick at as lunch is a bit later. My family never do a traditional starter but my mum always tries to get one in ie a soup. Just not enough room in the stomach.

But what do people do? I would love to put some posh hors d'oeuvres down at some point for people to enjoy.

I’ve seen some really fun pastry wreath recipes which look fun but I have no idea when would be best to serve them.

im getting so confused. What do people do? My mum would love a prawn cocktail but I just could not stomach a traditional starter before a massive meal.

I’ve got a list of things:
Brie and cranberry bite
salmon blinis
glazed sausages
sausage rolls
Pesto pastry wreath
Goat cheese log with pistachios
burrata and roasted tomato dip with crostinis
pear, Brie and rocket canapes
crab vol au vent
Salmon pate
whipped ricotta something
charcuterie wreath

I just don’t know how to incorporate them/serve them

I was thinking of just doing 3/4 hors d'oeuvres to serve at some point in the morning and have that as the starter and then just have a few things out like the goat cheese log and charcuterie bits

I’m genuinely so confused and overwhelmed

Usually just do some rocket/ watercress and slivers of smoked salmon with a balsamic dress. Super easy and light but tasty

Breakfast at 10am and lunch at 2pm.

Why is there any need for more food?

I do a smoked salmon starter.
Just salom lemon and asparagus.
We have tried other variations over the years but I get too full.
That plate with a glass of fizz is one of my fave Xmas moment s

We go out for lunch on Christmas Eve then just have bits like this for supper as we don’t need another proper meal.

On Christmas Day we have a light breakfast - croissants etc - and then some canapés around lunchtime to tide everyone over until we have roast turkey etc after the King’s speech.

Cheeses to pick at later in the evening plus Christmas cake.

I serve canapés instead of a starter.
Avoid anything with pastry as it’s so filling.
Mini prawn cocktails served in a shot glass, grilled hallumi with a square of melon on a cocktail stick.
Homemade soup in a an espresso cup, mini sausages, rounds of cucumber with blue cheese and a walnut,

In my opinion, having breakfast on Christmas Day is insanity, as is having a starter. I may have a few roasted and salted nuts to accompany the Christmas morning sherry but that’s quite enough.

I normally do salmon mousse and watercress blinis.
Your list is huge, like a buffet, nobody wants to fill stuffed before dinner.

We don;t do starters. But we have Christmas Dinner in the evening.
We start the day with smoked salmon and scrambled egg bagels, fresh fruit salad and bucks fizz or freshly squeezed OJ and lots of coffee. Then have homemade soup at lunchtime with a cheeseboard, and traditional nibbles like mince pies, walnuts and clementines. Then at night, the main Christmas Dinner, and sometimes Christmas pudding too, although that often gets left until Boxing Day.

I sometimes make a pastry wreath for Boxing Day. They are very pretty.