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PrayzHim introduces new service: personalized love songs
PrayzHim remains focused on honoring God as the entertainment adds new features
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT, Iowa — Weddings are all about the details — the flowers, the venue, the lighting. But for couples booking with PrayzHim Entertainment, there’s now a way to make their big day even more personal: a custom-written love song for their first dance.
The Mt. Pleasant-based wedding DJ service, owned by Andrew and Courtney Spence, recently launched this unique offering in collaboration with singer-songwriter Brad Johnson. The service allows couples to have a song written specifically about their love story, a keepsake they can cherish for years to come.
A Song That’s Just for You
After Andrew Spence met Brad Johnson, a singer-songwriter with over 30 years of experience, through Youth for Christ, the idea formed to offer custom love songs as part of PrayzHim’s entertainment services. After a conversation with Johnson, Spence said he knew right away “that there was a connection there for impacting the business and then our couples ultimately.”
Johnson is the newest addition to PrayzHim Entertainment. His musical styles center around Americana, Rock, Alternative, Folk, Country, and Pop. His love for music began at a young age and has only grown over time.
“[Johnson] wants to really put into words a couple’s love story in a way musically, that they could have that song as their first dance,” Spence said.
The service will provide a sit down with Johnson where he will learn “what makes their relationship tick.” He will take that information and put together the unique aspects of the couple’s love story to create a song that PrayzHim then records for the couple.
They can then use that song for their first dance and keep it to play for anniversaries or just relive the experience for years to come.
According to Spence, the idea to offer these special love songs stemmed from a desire to offer something truly one-of-a-kind after seeing couples spend so much time personalizing many aspects of their big day.
“I can't think of a more personalized way to, you know, have something at your wedding than a love song specifically for you,” Spence said. "So, a lot of couples are obviously wanting, like, a personalized touch on their event, on their wedding day, and it's obvious stuff like their choice of flowers and their colors and even who they invite. But you know, they're looking for things to go a little deeper, to like the core.”
The service officially launched for the 2025-2026 wedding season after a successful test run at wedding expos. Johnson performed at bridal shows, and the response was immediate.
"The very first couple, right out the gate, went straight to Brad and started talking about, like, what's going on," Spence recalled. "He was singing, and he had a chance to tell them about the offering and stuff. We had several couples, including couples that were already booked with us for DJ services, coming up and asking us about what we had going on. So, it's definitely something that we've seen trending throughout last year."
With such enthusiasm greeting PrayzHim Entertainment in regards to this new service, Spence looks forward to seeing these custom love songs come to life.
“We’re excited about it,” Spence said. “Brad’s definitely excited about it.”
From Basement Beginnings to a God-Centered Business
PrayzHim Entertainment wasn’t always the wedding entertainment company it is today. In fact, it started in Spence’s mother’s basement in 2010 during a challenging period in his life.
"Back in 2010, I was at a low point in my life,” Spence shared. “I was coming back from living in Illinois, kind of licking my wounds, trying to figure out where I fit in the world. At that time, some of the things I was pursuing kind of fell through, and again, just kind of that low point. So, I was doing a lot of praying and just had a lot of time to think and ponder and everything. And God gave me kind of a light bulb moment. And it was just this idea that all of the talents He had given me could be used in the realm of being a DJ.”
Spence said this was not something he had ever considered despite always being the guy to make “mixtapes” all the way back in grade-school.
“Again, my God-given talents include the ability to speak in front of people, computer knowledge, music background, all those things,” he said. “It was like the biggest aha moment. Like the cliché, clouds part and there’s a little ray of sunshine coming down on you kind of things, expect you know, I’m sitting in a basement.”
He had no idea this journey would take him to providing entertainment services for weddings when he stepped out in faith and began DJing at his cousin’s theme birthday party. After years of doing weddings here and there and DJing various events as DJ PrayzHim, Spence sate down with his wife Courtney in late 2019 and decided they needed to pursue this career as more than a hobby.
With determination to honor God with their business, Spence and Courtney named it PrayzHim Entertainment to make his mission clear.
"I wanted to be very clear from anybody, whether they had a chance to speak with me or not, that the reason I was doing this, the reason we were involved in this, is because of God. So, I wanted that glory to go back to God," Spence said.
Expanding the Wedding Experience
Since its inception, PrayzHim Entertainment has grown far beyond DJ services. Today, the company offers photo booths, dance floors, lighting design, cold sparks, digital monograms, and other enhancements to help couples create the wedding of their dreams.
"We always say we’re the fun people," Spence said. "Couples book photographers, videographers, caterers, hair and makeup. Those are all important, but we get to be the ones making sure the day is fun and memorable."
Each wedding is treated as a once-in-a-lifetime event, no matter how many they’ve done before.
"We go into every wedding with the concept of, this is the only wedding we're doing," he said. "Because for the couple, this is their one big day. And we take that seriously."
A key part of their philosophy is seamless coordination with other vendors, something Spence says is surprisingly uncommon in the industry.
"I've heard horror stories where the photographer needed to take pictures outside during golden hour, but the DJ just announces the first dance without checking. All of a sudden, it's just this chaotic thing of the couple missing something photo-wise," Spence explained. "Again, stuff that's like common sense to us, like why would you start a first dance, a pivotal moment in a newly married couple's life, and not have their photographer in the room?"
A Wide Reach and a Personal Touch
Though based in Mt. Pleasant, PrayzHim Entertainment serves Iowa and the surrounding states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri.
"We don't mind traveling if a couple is excited about having us, they want to pay some travel fees, maybe a hotel, depending on where we're going," Spence said. "We've been up to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri."
Spence tells of a time a couple from southern Minnesota reached out to PrayzHim Entertainment.
“I thought I needed to do a little more diligence because maybe they don’t realize we’re down here in Iowa, especially Southeast Iowa,” Spence recalled. “So, I reached out and find out they came across our name on the internet and felt like it really matched their values. They said they would really love to have use make the journey and they were more than happy to accommodate what we needed to make it happen.”
According to Spence, those are the best kinds of clients; the ones who truly connect with their mission and values.
"There's something magical about a synergy between the crowd and the DJ. The more amp they get, the more amp we're going to get," Spence said. "If they're more laid back, that's fine too. We'll be laid back with them and occasionally try to spike them up to see if there's potential for that."
The Future of Wedding Entertainment
As wedding trends continue to evolve, Spence believes personalization is the future.
"We've had stuff that we've offered before that didn't work out. At one point we had a little cold spark, like a fire version of it, like outdoor, but no one wanted to do that. We dropped it. Insurance also appreciated that," he joked. "So not everything is a home run. So, we just kind of put it out there and see what happens, and then we'll take it back if we need to."
With custom love songs, a growing list of services, and a commitment to faith and excellence, PrayzHim Entertainment is poised to make wedding days even more unforgettable for years to come.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
