Today we’d like to introduce you to Nae Batiste.
Hi Nae, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For a long time, I felt like a lost kid. I was not the child dreaming up big career plans or mapping out the future. I was carrying a lot internally, and it took time to grow into myself. As I got older and began doing the inner work, I started learning who I really was beneath everything I had been through. That healing process changed the way I saw myself, my life, and what I was capable of building.
I have always been someone who loves people and loves creating experiences that feel safe, beautiful, and intentional. At first, I thought that passion would show up through teaching and working with children. I spent years believing that was my path, and I am grateful for what that chapter taught me about patience, structure, and care. But eventually I realized my calling was not the classroom. It was bigger than that. I wanted to create something of my own, something that let me serve people in a way that felt real and aligned.
Even before I named it, the gift was always there. I have always been obsessed with weddings and celebrations. I loved the storytelling, the details, the energy, the planning, the way love brings people together. In my own family, I was always the one creating the plan, building the timeline, organizing the moving parts, and making sure everything made sense. Over time, I realized that what looked like “doing the most” was actually a skill, and that skill could become a purpose.
That is how The Brown Sugar Experience was born. I entered this industry and immediately saw what was missing. Weddings are often presented through a narrow lens that centers wealthy white couples, while Black and Brown love, culture, and traditions are rarely reflected or prioritized. I created The Brown Sugar Experience with my people in mind while remaining open and welcoming to everyone. My work is rooted in representation, care, and the belief that EVERY couple deserves to feel seen, protected, and celebrated.
I also believe love should not require an 60,000 price tag to be honored. My mission is to provide luxury-level support without the exclusion, and to bring the focus back to what matters most: the love, the commitment, and the people. The Brown Sugar Experience is not just wedding planning. It is advocacy, community, and a full-bodied experience that makes couples feel held from start to finish. I am a no bullshit wedding and event planner because my couples deserve honesty, peace, and support that is both professional and personal.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. At all.
While my childhood shaped me, the real obstacles came once I decided to build something of my own. One of the biggest turning points was being let go from my job in childcare due to staffing and ratio issues. Losing that income forced me to move faster than I felt ready for. What could have broken me instead lit a fire under me. I had no choice but to take my vision seriously and start treating my business like a lifeline, not a side idea.
Financially, it has been challenging. There were months where my household relied solely on my husband’s income while I worked to keep the business alive. I took on another job to make sure there was stability while quietly pouring time, energy, and money into building something that did not yet look like success from the outside. Funding a new business while learning how to run one at the same time is not glamorous. It requires patience, humility, and a lot of faith.
Another major challenge has been visibility. I have never been a social media person. Putting myself online, talking to a camera, and allowing strangers to get to know me did not come naturally. Trauma taught me to keep walls up, to stay guarded, and to move quietly. So learning how to show up publicly, confidently, and consistently has been real work. I am naturally warm, loving, and outgoing once you know me, but getting past that protective layer took intentional effort and healing.
Entrepreneurship also reveals who is really in your corner. I have lost friendships along the way. Some people were not supportive once I started growing or choosing myself. That loss hurt, but it also brought clarity. Anyone who could not stay while I was building was not meant to be part of the future I am creating.
There have been setbacks, slow months, moments of doubt, and long nights wondering if I was doing enough. But every challenge strengthened my resolve. These obstacles taught me discipline, resilience, and how to trust myself. They also reminded me why I started. To build something honest. To create access. And to prove that growth does not require perfection, only commitment.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Brown Sugar Experience. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
What truly sets The Brown Sugar Experience apart is how deeply we care about our clients as people, not just projects. Many planners focus solely on logistics, timelines, and execution. While those things matter, weddings are emotional events, not just schedules on paper. Planning a wedding brings up a lot. Family trauma, strained relationships, jealousy, grief, pressure, and expectations often surface alongside the joy. Ignoring that reality does a disservice to couples.
I approach wedding planning with the understanding that emotional wellness is just as important as logistical precision. I intentionally ask my couples about sensitive family dynamics, stressors, and emotional concerns, whether they are related to planning or not. My goal is to create a process that feels supportive, grounding, and safe from start to finish. A wedding day cannot feel peaceful if the journey to it is overwhelming.
What makes The Brown Sugar Experience unique is that my care does not stop at the wedding. Through a partnership with Choosing Empowerment, couples have access to premarital and relationship counseling services because I care about the marriage, not just the ceremony. You do not just get a planner with me. You get someone who treats you like family. A best friend. A cousin. Someone who is fully invested in your experience and your future.
The relationships I build with my clients are long term. I continue to check in after weddings, celebrate anniversaries, and stay connected as their lives grow. I want to be the planner you think of for every milestone, birthdays, baby showers, vow renewals, and celebrations yet to come. Life does not stop after the wedding, and neither does my support.
At its core, The Brown Sugar Experience is about accessibility, connection, and intention. Everyone deserves to celebrate their love in a way that feels authentic, joyful, and financially responsible. Love should not be exclusive, and beautiful celebrations should not come at the cost of peace or stability. We are more than planners. We are protectors of the experience, advocates for our couples, and partners in one of the most meaningful moments of their lives.
Might I also add, The Brown Sugar Experience is not limited by location. I work nationwide and travel anywhere love takes my couples. Yes, travel fees apply, but the experience comes with me. Trust me though, you cannot get the Brown Sugar Experience just anywhere, so I figured I would come to you. No matter where you are, my couples receive the same level of care, intention, and full-bodied support. Distance does not dilute the experience. It expands it.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The easiest way for people to work with me, collaborate with me, or support me is honestly to just ask. I am very open to partnerships and collaborations with people who align with my vision. I do not work with vendors or partners who are just here because this is a job. Everyone I work with has to actually care about what they do. It has to be a passion, not just a paycheck.
When I say alignment, I mean this work should matter to you. “If I did not have bills to pay, I would still be doing this.” That is the energy I look for in the people I collaborate with. When someone truly loves what they do, it shows. They show up differently, they take pride in their work, and they care about not disappointing people. If it is only about money, that energy is obvious, and I do not allow that around my clients or my work.
I am very easy to reach. People can contact me through social media, email, phone, or text. My personal and work numbers are out there because connection matters to me. I also really value meeting people in person whenever possible. I like to vibe face to face, laugh, hug, and get a feel for each other’s energy. You can build connection online, but meeting in person creates something deeper.
I am open to collaborating with anyone who aligns with my vision, respects the work, and genuinely loves what they do. When the energy is right, the work flows, and that is how the best collaborations happen.
Pricing:
- Sweet On The Low – $620 (Micro Wedding)
- Brown Sugar Lite – $800 (Day of Coordination)
- Butter & Brown – $1,880 (Partial Planning)
- Brown Sugar Eternity – $2,600 (Full Planning)
- Vow Voyage – $4,400 (Destination Wedding)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brownsugarexperience.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brownsugar_experience/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575186916811
Image Credits
Stan LaKnight – LaKnight Photography
