The Official Royal Steamline Blog
The latest news, inspiration and other findings
May 21
Enter the House of Vapirre
Gothic mysticism goes minimal in our new design, House of Vapirre
House of Vapirre Invitation by Royal Steamline
Steeped in mystery (and with no small flair for the dramatic), House of Vapirre complements a cloudless garden party as much as a moonlit ceremony in a lacquered manor library.
A design inspired by the 1870s as much as the 1970s, House of Vapirre includes a variety of paper options.
Want a custom shadow color? Just name it! We’d be happy to oblige. See the Enclosure and the RSVP!
That’s right! Continuing our Bookplate Series, here are four new invitations inspired by some of our favorite women writers! (Originally, it was just going to be a Southern Gothic trio — but we couldn’t help but add one more!)
Harper Invitation by Royal Steamline
Willa Invitation by Royal Steamline
Carson Invitation by Royal Steamline
Eudora Invitation by Royal Steamline
As always, we combined and re-combined elements to create new interpretations. Eudora took a slight Gothic turn (but have you ever read “A Worn Path?”) and Willa’s Midwestern earthiness could even be seen as a touch steampunk-y. It keeps things fun, you know?
Click on the images to see enlargements!
That post title isn’t just a hackneyed attempt to attract the attention of those busy little Googlebots, it’s actually all true! As we posted on Facebook on Earth Day (or last Monday as some might call it), all of our Printable Invitations are now 15% off! Use the Coupon Code “RS-DIY” at checkout to get the discount.
As if that wasn’t enough, we’ve also quietly discounted many of our Gothic print invitations. (For those planning a Gothic-style affair for the fall, now is the time to order invitations! Remember: 10/13/13 falls on a Sunday!) Oh, and we threw Decho in there too, just because we’re so excited about this new design (hand drawn fonts! watercolor deco frames!).
Decho shown in Sky
Like the Printables sale, these mark-downs won’t last forever. Now’s the time to save money on your favorite Royal Steamline designs!
We’re crazy for Spanish design house Cortana‘s Spring 2013 bridal collection. Full of delicate lace and airy fabrics, these dresses exude an understated elegance. See the entire collection at Cortana.
Cortana – Spring 2013 – Photography: Bárbara Vidal
Cortana – Spring 2013 – Photography: Bárbara Vidal
Cortana – Spring 2013 – Photography: Bárbara Vidal
Cortana – Spring 2013 – Photography: Bárbara Vidal
Cortana – Spring 2013 – Photography: Bárbara Vidal
Cortana – Spring 2013 – Photography: Bárbara Vidal
Cortana – Spring 2013 – Photography: Bárbara Vidal
Cortana – Spring 2013 – Photography: Bárbara Vidal
Lisa Eldridge gives a step-by-step guide to creating a classic vintage look. Perfect for the vintage bride:
See more makeup magic at lisaeldridge.com
Here’s something a bit different! Today’s post isn’t so much about weddings, but more about inspiration and those American time capsules called laundromats. I strongly urge anyone interested in design, typography and/or the hidden history of the United States to pop in to any Mom-and-Pop laundromat you encounter. In all likelihood, you’ll encounter artifacts of a bygone era.
Spring Fresh…since ’74.
You see, it’s my guess that since laundromats are such utilitarian places, most owners see little need to update signage. Like, ever.
Something about that white underline fascinates me…
Of course, laundromats eventually update themselves. So check out your local wash spot before it realizes what decade it is.
House rules.
We’re giddy over Russian designer extraordinaire Ulyana Sergeenko’s Spring/Summer 2013 lookbook. A mixture of of bustles, ballgowns and embroidered details, this playful collection was photographed by Nick Sushkevich at Hotel De Crillon in Paris. 
 
Somehow we only recently discovered British beauty guru Lisa Eldridge’s blog. We’re making up for lost time, watching back-to-back video tutorials and stunning (and simple!) transformations. Even more impressive is her mini-series dedicated to vintage make-up. You can check them out here:
Victorian Era – 1930s
1940s – 1970s
Vintage Makeup
Photo by Ky Luu of B.Captured
We were so pleased to see Faith & Michael’s Steampunk wedding featured on Alice in Weddingland last week. The couple chose our Finsbury Park invitation to set the scene for their Victorian garden wedding at Kingsbrook Estate in South Australia. The attention to detail, the “Rapunzel” veil, the luxurious fabrics are a sight to see, all brilliantly captured by Ky Luu of B.Captured. View more photos and details on Alice in Weddingland.
Finsbury Park Invitation | Photo by Royal Steamline
Photo by Ky Luu of B.Captured
Photo by Ky Luu of B.Captured
(Imagine the following being delivered by a fantastically authentic Victorian carnival barker…)
So you say you have the perfect photo? A beautiful photo? A photo of you and your betrothed? Lookin’ smart at the park, the beach, the local rub-a-dub? And you just know that it’s the photo you want to use on your Save-the-Date?
Well now you can, my friends, now you can!
(OK, now back to our normal voices…)
Here it is: a vintage postcard Save-the-Date that you complete with your own uploaded image. Also, you choose the “Postcard” style, the font and the frame style.
Choose from six Postcard styles…
…and 10 font styles.
Now you can build your own, one-of-a-kind save-the-date (and leave the printing to us!). See all the options here!
Apr 03
Double Negative
Black on white just too black? How about white on black?
Million Dollar Trooper – now in “Black on White”
(By the way, this isn’t unusual. If you like a design, but would *love* it in another color, just let us know. Chances are, we can make you happy!)
While going through a vast box of old family letters and ancient correspondence, J’s parents unearthed a neatly tied folder of letters from some of his distant relatives, the Roulets of Newark Valley, New York. They follow the adventures and family drama of patriarch Alfred and sons Paul, Felix and William from the years 1870 to 1890. In short, they are amazing. And I’m not just talking about the family history (tragic deaths! brotherly jokes! wine and apricots in Paris!), I’m talking about the visual beauty of them. Most stationery is embossed with the printer’s mark or bears a beautiful letterhead. And the penmanship! If only we all could write this beautifully!
The spoon isn’t just a prop — it’s from the Roulet family, as well.
Alfred was a Frenchman, so I could only read the letters from his sons!
I wish our modern day communication was a little more tangible? I know that text and emails are so much faster, but who will read of your adventures in Berlin or your wedding day in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 125 years from now? Â Perhaps if we just wrote one letter a year, we’d have a treasure trove of history for our descendants.
Mar 13
1940s Hairstyle Tutorial
Who said pin curling your own hair is impossible. See the whole shebang at Vixen Vintage.
What better way to shake off the mid-winter blahs than some free goodies? Look no further! We’re giving away a few of our custom stamps. You can enter for a chance to win here:
The Address Stamp Giveaway | The Monogram Stamp Giveaway
So hop to it — the giveaways end on Friday!
Jan 29
For the 20th Century Fox
Here’s a new invitation design that recalls the heady days of Old Hollywood!
The front of the Invitation.
Silver Screen is just the thing for glamorous couples planning an elegant affair. Perhaps something with a 1930s or 40s theme? See the whole suite here!
Silver Screen Invitation
And just because we love nothing more than mixing styles and eras, here’s another silvery treat for your enjoyment!
Let’s Be Friends!
The Pinatorium
Invitation Showcase
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Two Ring Circus $179 -
Steamside $179 -
Create Your Own Vintage Postcard Invitation $159 -
Finsbury Park $159 -
Port of Call $139
