Now that our spiffy new summer/fall 2012 issue is on newsstands, we'll once again be sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the features you'll find inside our pages. We're kicking things off with a peek at the inspiration for our first feature in the mag: True Colors.

The opening page from our True Colors section

For the summer/fall issue, we wanted to spotlight a palette that was cool and contemporary but still playful and fun. Enter refreshing mint (fashion's current color du jour thanks to this season's pastel craze) and zesty orange (after Tangering Tango was named Pantone's color of the year, we knew we had to squeeze a citrus shade into the mix). I'm obsessed with anything mint-y right now--tank tops, sandals, nail polish, grasshopper Oreo ice cream--so styling this feature was a bit of a guilty pleasure.

I love mint for a wedding color palette because it's just as soft and pretty as pale pink, purple, or blue, but there's something fresher and less saccharine about the shade. And what could be happier than a pop of bright orange? Throw in demure blush and glittering gold tones, and you have the perfect palette for a summer or fall shindig!

Check out some of the images that inspired this issue's True Colors section:

What do you think of mint green + bright orange? Are you loving these two hues as much as we are? What other shades are making you weak in the knees? Share your current color obsessions below!

To see the full True Colors feature, pick up a copy of our new summer/fall 2012 issue.