by Eileen Livers and Monica Bernstein

Q

Dear Wedding Women,

My DJ dumped us less than six weeks before our wedding. The invitations went out stating that there will be a "Reception Dinner and Dance Following the Ceremony." Is it too late to book another DJ? We didn't lose any money because the DJ said we didn't have to give him a deposit until two weeks before. I don't know what to do. I am freaking out here.

jmknoppe



A

Dear jmknoppe:

We feel for you! By all means, get on the phone and see if you can find another DJ. You never know when there will be a last-minute cancellation of another event, opening a spot on another DJ's calendar that you can claim. (And at such a late date, you may even be able to negotiate a discount.) If you run out of places to call, try putting in a few calls to local high schools or colleges and asking them who they hire for parties. If you don't mind taking a chance, you can also ask around for truly talented non-professionals -- a friend's brother or cousin, say, who has DJ'd at parties before but who doesn't do it professionally. Next stop: the CD store. You may have to rent a suitable setup (sound system, 10-CD changer, etc.), throw in some CDs and hope everyone takes to the floor. There are tons of CD mixes available full of great dance songs. Hope this helps!