Rawle & Shipley

Rawle & Shipley provides classical music for weddings and events in London, through soloists and choirs rather than a fixed ensemble. Each singer is individually auditioned from one of the capital's leading music colleges, and a booking can be built around a single voice or a full choir.

Many of the singers trained at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, and two are former Cambridge choristers. Their professional credits include the Barbican, the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall and performances with the London Symphony Orchestra, as well as English National Opera, Opera Holland Park and several West End theatres.

Special occasions on the singers' record include the closing ceremony of the Olympics and the Queen's Golden Jubilee. A soloist or choir can perform a single piece during the ceremony and help lead the congregation in the hymns.

There is no set repertoire. Couples choose the music, and a singer is then matched to it from a book of more than 100 professional soloists. For couples unsure what to choose, advice on repertoire is part of the service, drawing on the team's years of musical experience.

The arrangement is flexible: singers can be added or removed to suit a budget, and bookings have been fulfilled at 24 hours' notice. Amplification can be supplied where a venue requires it, although the singers often do not need it.