"but now I'm not sure I want to put that much time in. Especially since I've never done a brisket before."
Good rule of thumb you're following there........in genral, don't do a 1st time item for guests, esp. a bunch of guests or an important event......fall back on known items......
I've broken that rule before, had it come out OK, but it was nerve-wracking !!!!
Maybe finger foods......ABT's, moink balls, small fatties, some small skewers of vegetable matter......
all those things can be done up a day or so ahead & cooked up thru some of the morning.......time consuming, but good......