A number of years ago, I was heavily involved with chasunah bands. I would be present at about a 100 a year. I was part of some chasunahs that for reasons unknown to us were delayed quite a bit. At some, there was a wait for some varied people to arrive. In the summer, a wait was common, as they were often waiting for past dark to start a ceremony. Here and there it was reported that a mistake was made on the kesubah, and it had to be rewritten. I was at some events where there were unfortunate medical emergencies that caused delays.
At one crazy affair, all began about noon…..with a FIRST cocktail hour, then string quartets played for quite a while.Later, about 4 or 5 pm, there was a SECOND cocktail hour, the affair was now on time… .but… after a so called final late dance session, the band was asked to stay and play another two hours. I arrived at noon, left about 1 AM…..
Back in the day, there was a very strict curfew in Lakewood….and the band was silent at 11 pm. The chasunah broke up shortly thereafter. If there was a mitzvah tantz, it was very short, and quiet.
Some mitzvah tantzs went on and on…. I remember one that lasted about 4 or more hours. As only close family was there, no one cared. As a few of the band members had to stay, to play a bit here and there, I finally left….after it was already light outside.
At a large affair once, all was on video and also separately recorded. There were many delays and it ran extremely late. There were multiple video and audio crews everywhere all night, calling the shots.
But….one affair I was present at, there was a quite short night, all was over well before 10 pm. It was a Russian affair, with a very small crowd attending. There were perhaps 40 guests in attendance.
Overall, most affairs were in the whole rather on time, maybe a few minutes off the schedule.