Having catered for a fair few big parties, here are my top tips!
Do not turn down any offers of help or contributions. Initially I was a bit of a control freak, honestly do take people up on offers - but have a list of what you would like them to make for you eg coleslaw or a mixed salad so it all ‘hangs together’.
Even if you’re normally a ‘make from scratch’ person, you have to let go a bit when mass catering. What idiot makes their own pastry for sausage rolls for 100?! Didn’t ever do that again, but still can’t buy ready made sausage rolls, now compromise on shop bought pastry and good sausages. Sausages on the BBQ then put into bread rolls are even simpler.
Unless everyone can sit at a table, make sure every dish can be eaten witb a fork or fingers. Quite often on MN people suggest roasting whole joints of meat , which simplify prep but difficult to eat slices of roast when standing up and holding your plate.
Large ziplock storage bags (IKEA’s are brilliant) help make the most of fridge space, rather than putting dishes in fridge in serving or cooking dishes.
Agree re extra fridge space - worth checking freecycle or local FB group. Also friends were great at keeping me a shelf or two free in their fridge for me.
Don’t over-complicate things. I am the queen or this, and still trying to improve - eg accepting that bowls of cherry tomatoes are as acceptable as tomato salad; bowls of mixed soft fruit served with birthday cake rather than making 10 different desserts is absolutley fine (although desserts are a great thing to ask people to bring as they often need to be kept in the fridge, by the time your guests arrive you’ll be serving your mains so freeing up fridge space for their donations).
One of tbe best and most relaxed buffets I went to was a massive cheese board, separate meat & pate platters with various accompaniments (cherry toms, cucumber sticks, chutney, pickles, dried apricots etc), different breads & crackers. You will know your guests, if you have people who can’t eat that sort if thing eg because they are vegan, ask them for suggestions for alternatives for them. Worth considering something like this . I remember being hugely impressed by how relaxed the host was and able to mingle rather than be dealing with the food. Although you could complement the cheese / meat boards with sausage rolls, samosas or quiche. Or even having a few pizzas delivered.
i have lots of ideas for buffet dishes if you decide you want a more traditional buffet than a grazing type table, but you need to make some basic decisions first as to the type of buffer you want .
Ask people to bring whatever they want to drink - it’s frustrating when people only bring wine then drink 6 cans of beer each so your supplies run out quickly resulting in an emergency dash to the off licence. Also ask people to pre-chill drinks where relevant. You can obviously have crates with ice in on the day but prechilled does help.