Seven players is brave, but can be a lot of fun if you can keep things under control. A lot depends on the group, but if you can set ground rules from the get-go, it helps. With a large group, I say that everyone takes in in turn around the table (or in initiative order), and everyone else shuts up, listens and thinks about what to do when it's their turn. Non-D&D conversations and side-chats need to be minimised (but I tend to allow a bit of time between encounters where I relax that a bit).
Good luck, and always remember two things; the DM is allowed to have fun as well, and the most dangerous monster in any dungeon is a goblin with a lever 😁
thanks for the response!
Yeah, one of the other issues is balancing the big personalities. We have some quiet folks and then the bard is a real life bard. I do try to keep them on track especially when its describing important scenes/new things.