Bruges or Strasbourg from Paris??

If you go to Strasbourg, try to find time for Colmar (extremely picturesque), even if only to see the Isenheim Altarpiece in the Unterlinden Museum.

Both nice towns, but I haven't been to either one at Christmas. Otherwise, I'd prefer Bruges all else being equal.

I preferred Colmar to Strasbourg slightly - just a tad smaller, a little less urban. Strasbourg has trams; Colmar doesn't. The trams make it seem like a bigger town somehow. Also, the European Parliament meets in Strasbourg - when they are in town, hotels can get booked. Colmar is an easy day trip by train from Strasbourg, though.

You can see what both Bruges and Strasbourg look like at Christmastime by searching Google Images. The dark comedy "In Bruges" starring Colin Farrell was shot in Bruges at Christmastime, FYI.

We did Bruges at Christmas a few weeks ago. Can't see any way you could go wrong with that. We absolutely loved it. Wonderful Christmas market right in the square.

Strasbough claim is to have the oldest Christmas market going back to the 1400. It is pretty extensive with a variety of specialized markets at different locations. The tram makes it easy to get around. Loved the wine Christmas market. We spent three days there and enjoyed every minute. And Strasbough is a very interesting city to visit and tour. However, have no experience with Bruges at Christmas. We have been to Bruges in the summer. It is smaller.

Strasbourg is much easier to get to. I think we took a train from the CDG gare to Strasbourg some years ago. On the other hand, more people will ask you if you went to Bruges than will ask you if you went to Strasbourg. Based on the other post, if the Christmas market is up by the time of your trip, I would go to Strasbourg.

Although I find Bruges overrated, especially as a place to sleep, I will say that they are not equivalent destinations.

In NE France, check this old post:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/louvre-lens-and-lille-8dd19b06-aacb-466c-bab6-0e32649d4cc2#top

If your husband likes German food, why not go to Germany? We just came back from our fourth "two-weeks" in different sections of Germany. We do repeat Berlin, but there's lots to see all over the country. And surely you can fly to one of the big cities there as easily as to Paris? Other than Colmar, you could also add some of the other popular Belgian destinations, and maybe fly home from BRU.

I would look to the weather too. Bruges is close to the sea and wheather, meaning low temperature, damped and some wind there can be unpleasant around Christmas not directly inviting for going outdoors. It is very unlikely there will be any kind of snow to experience in November.

Go to Strasbourg for the Christmas markets - note their dates.
Then, you might take the train to Colmar or Riquewihr.
Sausage, potatoes and beer are pretty much the same in any language. He'll be fine.

I don't think that Bruges has any Christmas markets - unless they are selling lace trinkets.

google "Noel en Alsace" for all the info - especially the dates. To visit the villages, Colmar is a better base than Strasbourg.

Chexbres – Bruges has certainly a Christmas market, lace is a bit a thing of the past, nowadays it is more about chocolat and beer. But traditionaly Christmas is to my opinion something German and now adopted by many places elsewhere in Europe (and beyond). Being a former German city Strasbourg belongs to that tradition.