Service, service, service – ideas – time, and lots of TLC are ways Leslie and Marcia set themselves apart. Their warm and inviting nature set me right at ease when I visited them in their quiet, neighborhood studio office on the Oakland/Piedmont border. Friends for many years, Leslie and Marcia conceived Printed Affair in June 1994 and opened their doors in October that same year. Oddly enough, they were highly recommended to me by their competition.

The assortment of printed papers for weddings, showers, rehearsals, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, anniversaries, and every social occasion complement their large stock of invitation lines, from theme-oriented designs to a full line of traditional Crane’s invitations. Leslie and Marcia enjoy finding the right invitation. "It’s like pieces to a puzzle," explains Leslie.

They are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday by appointment. Their doors are open for anyone to browse for ideas, and they welcome the opportunity to create an invitation to fit the individual style and event.

I enjoyed browsing through some of their customized invitations. They have a good sense of design and thoroughly enjoy working with their customers. "It’s our cup of tea," adds Marcia.

They enjoy a steady stream of repeat customers. During my visit, an exhausted woman stopped by after an endless search for odd-size envelopes for her daughter’s birth announcements. Every place she visited either did not have the unique size or did not want to sell envelopes without an invitation order. After she showed Leslie and Marcia the announcement, not only were they able to find her envelopes, but they actually stocked the entire matching set. This very satisfied customer was thrilled to find a new source for her invitation needs.

Before you order invitations