Buffet for 1st birthday gathering?

[llynnnn]

Hi
its my dd's 1st birthday at the end of the month and I am planning a small (ish) open-house sort of party for the Sunday afternoon. Thinking there will be about 40 people coming mostly adults but a couple of littlies all coming throughout the afternoon/early evening? Wondering what sort of food would be best to offer as and when? sandwiches etc will go dry wont they? Would've loved a bbq but with the obvious rubbish weather I dont dare risk it !!

Cover plates/trays of sandwiches with lots of clingfilm so the whole plate is completely sealed, and only bring them out and uncover them as needed, they'll stay fresh for hours as long as the clingfilm stays on and as long as the filling doesn't need to be refrigerated - that's what professional caterers do.

have plenty of dry nibbles- cheese straws,bread sticks, nuts, crisps, with dips and cubes of cheese.

Never underestimate the quite staggering amount of cocktail sausages that will get eaten!

Not chilli-ish Kettle chips - I did this at dd1's first b-day thing, not realising (doh) that the crisps are the first thing that any child goes for, and managed to send a number of small people howling to their mothers...Haven't done that since...

By the way, if you're considering booze for the growns, Lidl have really yummy prosecco for £3.49 at the moment which is fab for mass catering.