Want to incorporate both light and dark shades into your big-day décor landscape? Consider this unexpected combination: lavender and aqua. The rich blue-green grounds the pastel purple, as evidenced by these bridesmaids' BHLDN ensembles.

Note how the middle attendant's floral-printed gown features a mix of both shades—physical proof that they play well together.

If there's one color that guests don't expect to see at a summer wedding, it's black. But when combined with the brightest-possible whites and another moody tone (like mauve or burgundy!), an inky charcoal colorway brings drama that a pastel never could.

This Sophie Felts centerpiece—the cream-and-merlot blooms (a mix of anemones, ranunculus, andromeda, and cosmos) were situated in a jet vessel and placed on a tabletop styled by East Made Event Co.—is proof.

Beach brides, meet the new-age nautical color palette: mustard, slate, and seafoam green, illustrated here by this Plume & Fête invitation suite. All three shades recall hues you'd commonly see on or near the water—mustard for sunshine, slate 

for the pebbles or rocks that dot the shoreline, and seafoam for its namesake. The twist? These hues are muted enough to feel subtly contemporary; they're certainly more modern than a blue-and-white combination, the classic maritime wedding pairing.

Turn to a popular summer treat (ice cream!) for unexpected wedding color palette inspiration. This Whisk. Bakery confection combined the colorways of two go-to flavors: strawberry and mint chocolate chip.

Our favorite warm-weather color schemes are ones that buck tradition (and seasonality) entirely. This cream-and-blue-gray suite by Susan Silverberg—accented by dark burgundy leaves and petals from Lavendar Florals—proves 

that there aren't any rules when it comes to selecting a palette you love for your summer event.

We'll never grow tired of the classic green-and-white color palette—but we always appreciate a new-age twist on tradition. Replace traditional cream with a stormy shade, like merlot, for a pairing with contemporary dimension.

This unique combination is prettily illustrated throughout Wild Green Yonder's carnation, Japanese anemone, orchid, fern, and astilbe bouquet.

Can you tell that moody colors are having a moment this summer? Make like Violet and Bone and work two edgy shades, like jet and mauve, into your reception design for a palette that's the definition of cool.

Modern couples planning a summertime celebration, bookmark a supposedly-classic black-and-white palette. In actuality, this color scheme is the foundation of monochrome—which means it's perfect for your contemporary event.

Set the tone for your minimalist celebration with a tonal invitation, like this one from Minted, which featured calligraphy from Stefanie Hofmeister and envelopes via Envelopes.com.