As a destination wedding makeup artist in the Bahamas, I traveled the tropical resort Kamalame Cay to provide on-location hair and makeup for a luxury island wedding. Here is my blog offering a behind-the-scenes look at destination bridal beauty in a tropical location.
Kamalame Cay As A Luxury Destination Wedding Location
Kamalame Cay is a truly special destination, one that feels both remote and refined, and immediately sets the tone for an unforgettable wedding weekend. Reaching the private island is part of what makes it so unique: after flying from London Heathrow to Nassau, I took a small charter flight to Andros Island, one of the most beautiful parts of the Bahamas. From there, I was picked up for a short boat transfer that took me across to Kamalame Cay, which is accessible only by a boat transfer.
From the moment of arrival, it’s clear why Kamalame Cay is such a sought-after location for luxury destination weddings. The privacy, scale, and sense of tropical escape make it ideal for intimate, high-end celebrations, offering couples and their guests a setting that feels completely removed from the everyday, it was literal paradise and I felt like something out of Robinson Crusoe.
Traveling Internationally As A Destination Wedding Makeup Artist
This was my second international destination wedding, and when my client asked if I would travel to the Bahamas for her wedding, I was absolutely delighted to be booked for the job. Working internationally is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a destination wedding makeup artist, but it also requires careful planning and preparation.
Packing a professional makeup kit for travel is not for the faint-hearted. With a small charter flight to Andros Island, strict luggage weight limits meant I had to dramatically refine my kit while still ensuring I had everything needed to work confidently, particularly as I hadn’t met my client in person for a trial. In my makeup kit I travelled with the travel sized Armani Silk foundation with is the most perfectly compact size for travel. Charlotte Tilbury also have some amazing travel sized products so I was able to still have all my ride or die makeup products that looks professionally presented but are half the size.
Traveling internationally with hair tools requires careful planning, especially when going for working with different voltage requirements, I used my trusty GHD styling tools For this reason, GHD make dual-voltage tools which means they can be used anywhere in the world and will adapt to the any voltage.
Photogrpahy By Stephen Walker Photography
Wedding Day Makeup In A Tropical Climate
For my clients wedding day makeup prep was everything, we started her skin prep of with my signature sculpting facial, prepping and priming the skin in the best way and layering on the Augustinus Bader Hydrogel Face Mask & Eye Mask to soothe any redness and supercharge the skins moisture levels.
The foundation of choice was the Armani Silk Foundation, it is oil free which means it is a natural choice for humidity and warmer climates, layered with the Bobbi brown Face Base is my absolute go to combination for a radiant makeup look that works well in warm weather.
Base
- Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Serum, Enriched Eye Base & Face Base – my go-to for a smooth, oil-free canvas.
- Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter (Shade 3) – used as a glowy primer to give luminosity without the sheen.
- Armani Silk Luminous Silk Foundation – Shade 5.9
- – oil free and beautifully buildable in heat and humidity.
- Bobbi Brown Corrector + Charlotte Tilbury Concealer – to brighten and balance under the eyes.
- Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Cream Bronzer – for warmth and sculpting the face for a seamless bronzed glow.
- Lisa Eldridge Elevated Glow Highlight – In shade Crystal Nebula a cream formula that adds light without shimmer.
- Hourglass Veil – Translucent Powder & Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Powder – To set the finished look.
Eyes
Victoria’s eye makeup was built around soft, sculpted definition that would look beautiful in natural daylight and translate effortlessly on camera, signature JHMA style.
We started with the Makeup By Mario Master Mattes Warm Palette to create shape and subtle depth. I then layered a bronzer over the eye socket before buffing in warm peach tones using the By Terry Brightening CC Palette in Sunny Flash, which added a soft wash of colour that enhanced Victorias natural eye tone without overpowering it.
To define the lash line, I used MAC Costa Riche, a warm, soft brown kohl that blends easily and brings gentle warmth to the look. We finished with Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Waterproof Mascara, and built up the lash line using individual lashes for a bespoke, fluttery finish.
Blush & Bronzer
We used Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in shade Radiant Bronze Light to sculpt the face before using Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Sublime Flush to create a beautiful radiant glow.
For Victoria’s lip colour a Lisa Eldridge Enhance & Define Lip Liner in shade Muse – combined with Charlotte Tilbury lipstick in shade In Love With Olivia. I used a beautifulLisa Eldridge lip oil in shade Affair to finish the look.
Working as a destination wedding makeup artist allows me to experience some truly extraordinary places, and Kamalame Cay was no exception. From the journey to the island to creating a beautiful hair & makeup looks for my client, it was a privilege to be part of such a special celebration. Destination weddings require a thoughtful approach, and experiences like this continue to shape how I support my clients wherever in the world their wedding takes place.
If you are planning a destination wedding in the Caribbean and would like to learn more, I’d love to hear from you! please get in touch here.
If you want to see more about how the team and I handle destination weddings then click here.
Full Supplier Credits
Photography: Stephen Walker Photography
Venue: Kamalame Cay
