Seasoned Christmas hosts please come talk to me

[lozengeoflove]

We are hosting Christmas Day for the first time and I'm excited and scared in equal measures. There will be ten adults eating and four toddlers and babies.

I'm ordering a huge turkey crown, gravey, salmon and perhaps some mince pies. Will make all the veg, salads, and nibbles. PILs doing ham, pigs in blankets and pate. SIL doing Christmas pudding. I'll also make some Christmassy cakes.

This will sound really stupid but I really don't know where to start! When do I get up on the day and how on earth do I know how many potatoes (not to mention other veg) I prepare?
Also, do I have to do a seating arrangement, or ask everyone to sit where they like?
Do I ask everyone to arrive in the morning when they like, or set a time?
And finally, I have loads of Christmas tree decorations, but as this is our first year in our home, I'd love to go crazy and create a little Christmas grotto - inside and out. Where do I shop for lovely big warm bulb lights, paper snowflakes stc, without breaking the budget?

I really should have paid more attention in the past! We never did a traditional Christmas when growing up, but I've been to plenty with friends and at FILs to know better!

Any tips would be hugely appreciated .

I'm looking forward to it, but a bit worried about timings. One of my sisters is late for everything, so I've told her we're eating an hour earlier than we actually are but even at that I'm worried that they'll be very late.

With regards to prepping, I made the mash potatoes (put them through a potato ricer and added milk & butter) and that's in the freezer. Also have the roast potatoes in the freezer ready to go (parboiled, shaken, tossed in flour and cooled, then frozen) And I have fresh stock in the fridge ready to make the gravy.

A LOT to do tomorrow (and I'm working till lunchtime eeek!) but I have been super organised doing a list and a full timetable of what has to be done and when, so fingers crossed it will all fall into place! As well as the food prep, tomorrow I'm going to get the table sorted and set, get all the various serving dishes out (and give them a quick wipe!) make sure the wine glasses are all sparkling etc. and fill up lots of ice cube bags for the freezer.

Good luck everyone, we're on the home stretch