Christmas nibbles advice, please!

[Icantremembermyusername]

For the past few years I've cooked Christmas dinner (for about 8 people) at my folks, so not really 'hosted'. My parents always have little dishes of chocolates, sweets, biscuits, nuts, crisps, etc around the lounge and everyone kind of grazes on before, and sometimes after, the meal.
This year I'm hosting at my house as I finally have a dedicated dining room but
I don't really want to buy loads of snacks as I'll be left with them when everyone goes home and I'll end up throwing them out in January (or, more likely gorging on them and not fitting my clothes come Hogmanay!).
Am I ok to just not buy the snacks?
Guests will arrive 12-12.30 ish. There will be homemade mince pies, Christmas iced cookies and squidgy gingerbread cake to eat while opening gifts. A 3 course meal served at 2.30. Usually dessert is served around 5pm in the living room. After dessert people want tea, coffee, Baileys and refuse any food and by 7pm, 7.30 max, they'll all be gone.
What nibbles would you provide, please?

salted nuts
maybe cheeses crackers and grapes?
done :)

I think it’s fine if you don’t want to buy snacks, you’re hosting so get to make the decisions.

I’d provide something savoury as well unless you know all your guests prefer sweet snacks.

I have small bowls of assorted nuts and mixed dried fruit some coated in chocolate dotted around pre dinner and refill them as needed. Any left in the packets (not the bowls) are offered along with some meal leftovers for guests to take home.

Maybe crisps? A few tubes of Pringles around in case anyone wants something savoury

I’d buy a few packets of crisps and nuts but not put them out unless all your mince pies etc get eaten. Then if they are not needed I’d donate to food bank in the New Year.

I'd buy crisps. Personally I don't want want pies, cake, other sweet things before lunch.

Is your list chronological? Am I correct that you are providing sweet mince pies, cookies and cake just before serving a 3 course meal??? I struggle with a 2 course meal, let alone a 3 course with sweet things beforehand!

I'd leave the lovely home-made and sweet things till later with coffee and let people choose which, if any they'd like. Instead, if the gift opening is indeed right before the 3 course meal- I'd keep it light.

Canapes made with cucumber as a base instead of a cracker, celery boats, melon wrapped in serrano ham with a drizzle of balsamic glaze on a stick etc. I'd also let guests know that there is a whole 3 course meal coming, so they don't over indulge in the canapes.

Can one overindulge on a cucumber canapé and some celery? I suppose if you ate two.

The glaze makes it quite filling I find.

Nuts
Crisps
Cheese board platter

Guests will arrive 12-12.30 ish. There will be homemade mince pies, Christmas iced cookies and squidgy gingerbread cake to eat while opening gifts. A 3 course meal served at 2.30.

I think all the sweet stuff during present opening time is unnecessary and not really what people want at that time of day. I'd be tempted to ditch the first course entirely and instead pass around a couple of trays of M&S party food, tempura prawns, mini vol au vents etc. a couple of hours before the meal is served. Have a tub of Celebrations open for those who'd prefer a sugar hit.

Are you serving alcoholic drinks before
lunch? Agree with others that I wouldn’t want a mince pie tEo hours before lunch, but I would like a few crisps or a breadstick with a glass of wine.

I would be quite surprised and disappointed not find to find savoury snacks and nibbles pre-lunch. You don't have to buy two lorry loads, but a few bowls of crisps and nuts are hardly a bacchanalian feast. Open packets as you need to, and give left overs to the food bank after. Simple.

and mince pies, cookies and cakes come after* the meal, not before. Serving them before is most odd.

And someone said a cheeseboard. Before lunch? Sheer madness.

I couldn't eat heavy sweet stuff 2 hours before a 3 course lunch. Nuts and crisps would work better, with a glass of fizz

Cheese footballs. Little balls of dried sick. Compulsory at Christmas.

This made me laugh out loud and I've woken up a grumpy husband 😆

Twiglets are compulsory, and the the tree shaped mini cheddars, a couple of trays of m and s party food. Who eats cake and cookies before dinner?

Definitely not a cheeseboard either, you want them to be able to eat their meal!

Perfect description

Thanks for your suggestions!
It's really fascinating to read everyone's expectations :-)
I'd love to do canapes and ditch the starter but I know my guests and they want a first course at the table with crackers and cava.
No one really wants an alcoholic drink pre dinner except me! But I accept that savoury snacks should be available so I'll buy some and put them out along with a dish of chocolates.
Thank you!

I would t want anything sweet before dinner but some savoury nibbles would be good

Just to say I would 100% want the mince pies, biscuits and squidgy cake later on - when the “replete with Christmas dinner” starts to wear off and the need for something on the sofa with a cup of builder’s tea kicks in.

Unfortunately everyone goes home before the 'oh, I want a morsel to nibble on' feeling arrives!
Well, I've purchased the savoury nibbles AND a cheeseboard just in case :-)