It’s traditional for the bride and groom to get presents on their wedding day, and it is expected that they give a little something back. Just like a kid’s birthday party where party favors are given out to everyone who attends, weddings guests should get a little favor bag to help remember your special day too.

Sometimes it can be hard to decide what your gift bag should be, usually because there are so many different types of people from all aspects of your life coming. You’ll have your family, your many groups of friends, possibly some coworkers, and of course your other half’s invitees. How do you find something that would appeal to everyone?

Before you get into the favors, start with the design of the bag. If you have a theme, the bag should match the theme. Otherwise a pretty white bag usually works out well. Any bag you have should have some way of tying it such as string or ribbon. Also try to find a type of bag that is durable so the favors don’t fall out. Cloth bags or totes are amazing gift bags because your guests can reuse them rather than throw them out. If you want to have separate favors for the men and women attending, have the bags be different colors such as the traditional pastel blue and pink.

Having different favors for men and women can be a good way to go if you can’t decide on something that is universal for both sexes. For women, you can use things such as special beauty product samples, small bottles of nail polish, or even nice lotion. Men would probably prefer to have something that has the name of the bride and groom on it, so custom made favors would be ideal. Of course there are many unisex favors you can have, such as candles, candies, and bubbles for blowing during the special occasion.

If you are going with a themed wedding, than that should be a strong factor in deciding what you will give your guests as favors. Silly gifts are perfectly acceptable as long as they match theme. As an example, if you are having a tropical themed wedding and reception, leis make great gifts. You could also include dancing hula girls, coconut lotion, and tropical flowers for your guests to take home.

Alternatively, if there isn’t a theme and you are still having trouble deciding, you can take the season that your wedding is occurring into account. If you are having a summer wedding, gifts such as sunglasses and sunscreen can be fun and useful presents, especially if any part of the occasion takes place outdoors. For a winter wedding, scarf and glove sets make excellent gifts that will get a lot of use.

The most important thing about your wedding gift bags is that you are happy with them. While you want to please your guests, they all know that it is your special day and will be thankful that you thought of them, so choose whatever favors work for you.

Anyone planning to visit France may have a list of beautiful places they want to visit but they may be unaware of the amount of temptations that will be offered for taste. The trip to France can be an indulgence on the taste buds as well as the waist line if not careful.

The best pastries in the world are found in France. The light and airy cakes are like feathers coated in seductive butter cream frostings and deep rich chocolates and they are as fattening as they are beautiful. With over 2300 pastry shops in France you will find that almost every corner will be offering the tempting treats. It is difficult to refuse the candied chestnuts, sherbet cakes, raspberry tarts and fruit filled crepes. If you are looking for gourmet ice cream you can find the best at Berthillon in Paris where you are tempted with a long list of flavors all homemade and delicious.

Every meal in France will be a temptation as the top chefs are located here and are constantly creating delicacies for you to try. Your palette will certainly enjoy the burst of flavors that it is encountering but your waistline may not feel so good about it. The best way to indulge your taste buds in France and keep your waistline in tact is to share a small serving with a friend. You can get a sample of the treat without having to endure the mass amount of calories it includes.

A bike ride along the glorious countryside is a great way to burn some of those extra calories. You can find castles, museums, and some unique tucked away restaurants to visit on your journey. The places that you want to see while in France may be overwhelming but if you make a list of the top places it will create a smoother trip.

You should have a map of all the cities you plan to visit and examine them before you arrive to ensure you have a good feel for the countryside you are about to explore.

Educate yourself on the French culture. The French have much different attitudes than American. You should learn the proper etiquette and be in tune with the attitudes of the locals before you arrive.

You must know enough French to assist you in finding sights of interest, hailing a taxi cab or to help find your way to the hotel. Many people in France speak English but finding one when you need them the most may not be possible.

Check the weather frequently, the weather in France changes often and you want to be prepared while on an outing. Pack very lightly, the French do not usually pack very heavily. There is not much room on the trains in France so if you have several bags you may not be able to fit them all on. Some hotels in France offer staircases and no elevator so this means you might be carrying your suitcases up several flights of stairs.