Juggling mikveh night immersion with attendance at another event can be tricky, and we are happy to make some suggestions to help you figure out the logistics.

To start with, we recommend preparing for mikveh before the affair. That would significantly cut down on time spent at the mikveh.

In addition, you can try to find a mikveh close to the event hall to reduce travel time. If you immerse at the earliest possible time, you can get to the affair quickly if it is nearby. Alternatively, if you immerse after you leave the event, you would have time to leave a little later. In either case, it is permissible to have a cover story if that will make it easier for you. You may choose to say you are not feeling your best or have some other obligation.

If there is a mikveh close to the hall, you might be able to immerse in the middle of the affair and come back. Sometimes, slipping out and coming back is doable, and here too it is permissible to explain your absence however you feel comfortable.

If you immerse during or after the event, try not to wear any makeup that would be difficult or very time-consuming to remove and not to eat meat before immersing. (If it is a seudat mitzvah, such as a wedding, you could eat meat, so long as you take great care not to get meat caught in your teeth and to clean them well at the mikveh.) At the mikveh, you would take a quick shower, comb your hair, remove makeup and jewelry, clean your teeth if you ate, and inspect yourself for chatzitzot.

Another option is to make arrangements with one of the mikvehs in your area to come later than the usual hours. Most mikvaot are willing to do this, sometimes for a fee.

While immersion at the first opportunity is the goal, if you and your husband agree there is no workable solution, you may delay immersion to the following night.

Please feel free to write back with any further questions.