About this vendor
The Laboratory Mill is a glamorous, upscale wedding venue in Lincolnton, NC, near the South Fork of the Catawba River. With a selection of waterfront scenery ranging from a river to a dam, this location offers endless photo opportunities with breathtaking views. With this dedicated team, that Pinterest-worthy, dreamy event is within reach.
The atmosphere of The Laboratory Mill is industrial with a twist, boasting large windows, original hardwood flooring, and distressed brick walls. A unique clerestory with exposed heart pine beams adds to the vintage vibe of the 200-year-old historical mill. A talented team of professionals manages this venue, striving to make sure every last detail of the magical event is expertly executed.
Couples who plan their celebrations at The Laboratory Mill are sure to find that their every need will be met with the highest standard of service. With indoor seating for up to 450 guests, this venue is ideal for grand celebrations. A selection of services is on offer within the reception site fee. Nearlyweds can begin their day in the on-site private suites with their wedding parties, preparing and dressing for the occasion. The dedicated team at The Laboratory Mill provides set-up and clean-up services, allowing the couple to enjoy every moment of their wedding without any added stress. Friendly and professional bar staff will be on hand to serve delicious refreshments to attendees throughout the day. Preferred lists of catering companies are available on the website to ensure an excellent experience is delivered. These amenities are on offer for all types of wedding events, including engagement parties, pre-wedding celebrations, showers, rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, and receptions. On-site parking and wheelchair accessibility are also provided for the convenience of guests. A selection of hotels and accommodations options are nearby to cater to every need.
Check out the gallery for an exclusive 360° Virtual Tour, and picture yourself at The Laboratory Mill today!
Amenities + details
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Covered Outdoors Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Settings
- Ballroom
- Beach
- Waterfront
- Historic Venue
Venue Service Offerings
- Bar & Drinks
- Destination Weddings
- Planning
Awards and Affiliations
3-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2022.2021.2019.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
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Reviews
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5
out of 5.052 reviews
This Venus’s was the venue of my dreams! The communication was better than I could have ever imagined. Any questions or concerns I had were responded to with the upmost respect and...
professionalism. The staff made my day beyond perfect and handled incidents without me ever knowing! Highly recommend The Laboratory Mill for any kind of event!
Loved this venue for our wedding. The indoor and outdoor areas were so stunning for all of our photos. The best part is that its natural beauty does not require much decorating or ...
additions to the space. Definitely was large enough to accommodate our guests! Ran smoothly and efficiently. The staff also helped make sure all our needs were met and everything went according to plan! Love love love the Lab Mill!
My wedding at The Laboratory Mill was an absolute dream come true. Linda was amazing to work with and was incredibly helpful and communicative. I couldn’t have asked for a better w...
edding and wedding planning process.
Beautiful venue and amazing staff. Bartenders were fabulous, the client experience specialist (Linda) is incredibly helpful and very responsive. The entire staff helped make my wed...
ding day amazing. I didn’t have to worry about a single thing.
The location is beautiful and staff is the very best! My daughter and son-in-law had an amazing wedding in March. From day one, Linda was extremely helpful and quickly responded to...
any questions we had leading up to the day. The day of, the staff was plentiful and amazing to ensure the wedding and reception went smooth. I would highly recommend the Laboratory Mill. You won't be disappointed.
My husband and I could not have asked for a better venue for our wedding! From the moment we stepped inside for our first tour, we knew it was the perfect place. Each member of the...
staff we worked with was so incredibly kind, helpful, and pleasant. A big shout out to Linda who went ABOVE and BEYOND by giving us tips for decorating, floor plans, etc. We got married on October 30th, and the leaves on the ground around the property, complete with the waterfall made our wedding pictures absolutely stunning. The layout of the venue itself was also perfect for our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception complete with a dance floor. We had just over 120 people and it was not empty, yet didn't seem too crowded. We got complaints all night. Would recommend this venue to any couple!
Absolutely hands down the best place to get married!!! They are very helpful and organized!! They go out of their way to make your day perfect!
Wonderful - Gorgeous venue with experienced staff. If you don't choose The Laboratory Mill, you're missing out working with a very kind and helpful staff. I can't say enough about ...
Linda. I told her the day I met her, she was going to be my best friend. As it turns out, I was wrong. She turned out to be family!! Even invited her to my daughter's wedding. Thanks to everyone at the Laboratory Mill for such a memorable wedding for my daughter!
We had our wedding at the Laboratory Mill on 08/05/2021. It was beautiful! We couldn't have asked for a better venue to celebrate the day. Linda and staff were so kind and easy to ...
work with! The pricing of the venue is very reasonable when compared to other venues and even more reasonable if you're able to be flexible on your wedding date. My wife and I had visited multiple venues on one day, the Laboratory Mill being the first one, and we knew straight out of the gate that the Mill was the perfect spot. The combination of beauty and character at the venue is second to none and we couldn't imagine it being any other way.
We had such magically experience at Laboratory Mill. Everyone was so accommodating and friendly to not only us but our vendors and family.
We had a wonderful experience with The Laboratory Mill. In particular - Linda was a pleasure to work with. Her calm and and "willing to help" demeanor was so needed. I knew th...
at she would help with small and large details. She thought of things that I did not. The venue is just lovely and it was great to have everything in one place!
Absolutely beautiful venue. It was perfect for the amount of people we had.
The Laboratory Mill is such a beautiful space for a wedding, big or small. Our wedding was unexpectedly small due to Covid, but the space didn’t feel overwhelming. The Laboratory M...
ill staff was welcoming and quickly responsive from the start and helped ensure our wedding went smoothly despite the many bumps Covid threw in the way. Cannot recommend the Mill enough!
The staff at the Laboratory Mill was exceptional. The day of my step-daughter’s wedding was worry free. What sold us on the venue was being able to move from the ceremony to the ...
reception without having to flip the space. The space itself is so beautiful that it did not need extensive decorating. Due to the pandemic it was not the Wedding we had planned but I would not change a thing.
We the best day we could have imagined! The whole team at the Laboratory Mill was amazing! Linda helped us with all the details and was a huge help to our day being absolutely perf...
ect! Our day went by with out any hick-ups. I would recommend this venue over and over again! We truly felt like we were family as soon as we walked in for our first tour. 10 outta 10, highly recommend!
We loved the location for our wedding. Small minor details were not communicated consistently across team members. You can’t use burning candles. But for us that wasn’t important. ...
Beautiful setting!!
We had our wedding here this August and it was absolutely perfect! Our original date was in June but due to state regulations etc we had to make the change and The Laboratory Mill ...
was nothing but accommodating and helpful! Everything about our day was so beautiful and special and the staff made sure that there wasn’t one detail missing! We hope to renew our vows here again in a few years and throw a huge party to celebrate! It’s the best venue around!
The Laboratory Mill is such a beautiful venue. My daughter knew from day one of planning her wedding that Laboratory Mill would be the perfect setting. I love the way they have r...
estored the cotton mill and kept the beautiful floors, beams, brick, etc. The staff is exceptional!! They went above and beyond to accommodate my daughter's every need. I would highly recommend it for any wedding or event.
Loved having my wedding at the Laboratory Mill! I wouldn’t choose anywhere else to have my special day. It is super spacious, which turned out to be exactly what we needed to hold ...
our wedding during COVID. The whole staff is helpful, accommodating, and truly on your side! They helped change floor plan options again and again & left the decisions to me! Not to mention that all of my guests commented on how beautiful the venue was!! 10/10 would recommend!
The planning was seamless-so easy! And everything turned out wonderful!
Our daughter’s wedding was at The Laboratory Mill and we were beyond pleased with this venue! First, let me say that the owners, Cyndi and John Dellinger, have made this venue into...
an exquisite place for a wedding and reception, as well as the rehearsal dinner, all in one place. They have a great staff as well, who are always willing to help and who are present throughout the entire process to assist the wedding party and guests with any need. Linda, their Client Experience Specialist, was always there to help and answer any question that arose and assist us with any task. Jamie, their Event Manager, stayed with us until we were ready to leave the rehearsal and wedding and met us the day after so that we could pick up any wedding items left. It is definitely a venue full of love, dreams and magic!! Everything was perfect and I highly recommend The Laboratory Mill for any event!
When my fiance and I first saw the Laboratory Mill, we knew we wanted to get married there. The venue is absolutely stunning, and Linda and her team are amazing to work with! They ...
answered any and every random question we had with a smile, and kept us on track as our wedding day came. They made the venue portion of wedding planning super easy. Everyone absolutely loved our venue and kept commenting about it during and after our wedding. I would highly recommend holding a wedding here, and would even look to do more events in the future with Laboratory Mill!
Very nice venue and great staff to work with! This venue MADE the wedding - almost all the guests commented on how fabulous a setting this was for a wedding. Lots of history too ...
take in too. I would have another event here in a heartbeat.
Great venue!
We could not have picked a better place to get married. In addition to the venue being absolutely gorgeous, especially in the fall, the staff was always incredibly helpful and frie...
ndly. They worked very hard to make our day perfect. I would highly recommend this venue to any bride in the western NC area.
The Laboraty Mill is amazing. They provide high quality service. They are willing to go the extra mile, are super helpful and attentive to what you need and want. The location is g...
reat, it is tucked away in a corner of Lincolnton so there is not a lot of traffic or high risk of random people showing up at the wedding. I loved that the ceremony and reception was in the same place and the mill itself needs little decoration because it is already elegant as is.
This venue is absolutely beautiful! We knew right away that this is where we wanted to get married. The staff was Wonderful, they answered all of our questions and helped us make o...
ur wedding day perfect. We highly recommend the Laboratory Mill!
The Laboratory Mill was a fabulous venue! We had both ceremony and reception at the site which was wonderful since we were able to do everything (from getting ready to the send-of...
f) at one place. The acoustics were great in the ceremony area. We chose to keep the reception area all in one space (instead of the staff emptying the ceremony area for it to become the dance floor) which worked very well. The staff was super friendly and very accommodating. And the scenery (with the river and waterfalls right out the door) made for stunning photographs. If you're looking for a venue with character then the Laboratory Mill is it!
This place is hands down the most beautiful venue you will find. My daughter and my son both were married there. My daughter in law really didn't want to use same venue as my dau...
ghter but after looking at other places. Her decision was easy. The staff is wonderful and so helpful. This place is breathtaking. Not only for weddings but the downstairs Card Room is perfect for rehearsal dinner. I highly recommend The Laboratory Mill.
A beautiful venue with a wonderful staff. So helpful and accommodating. The wedding was beautiful and we enjoyed working with everyone.
We couldn't have selected a more special spot to get married at. The moment you walk in, you feel like you are at home, yet the Laboratory Mill has such a rustic elegance that no o...
ther venue we looked at could top. Our guests immediately fell in love with it the moment they walked in, just as we did. From beginning to end, their staff was amazing. We didn't have a wedding planner, and I was nervous how the whole process was going to go, but they calmed all my nerves and really stepped in and helped when needed. I can't say enough wonderful things about working with Linda too. She never made me feel like I asked too many questions. I miss this place already dearly, and I highly recommend it to brides who want a rustic elegant fairy tale Wedding Day:).
Beautiful venue. Fantastic staff. Our guests were blown away. You can add additional decor if desired but this place shines on its own. Comfortable temperature inside. Loved havin...
g the ceremony and reception all in one spot.
Only negative was that they did not order enough alcohol for our reception.
I cannot say enough goods things about The Laboratory Mill. At the beginning of our wedding planning process we saw 4-5 venues and none compared to the mill in price, beauty, or qu...
ality of the staff.
The staff is so friendly and accommodating. Linda and Jaime went above and beyond to make sure that we had everything we could possibly need for the big day! I went several times leading up to the wedding and they always worked with my schedule to help find a time that was convenient for me whether it was morning or late afternoon.
We had our rehearsal dinner in the cardroom downstairs (it's smaller than upstairs but just as awesome) and then the wedding and reception in the upstairs area.. it was so nice to be able to have everything at the same place! The venue is gorgeous even before any decorations are put up and there are a ton of places inside and out to take amazing photos.
I would recommend The Laboratory Mill to anyone and if you choose to have your wedding here you won't regret it!
Absolutely amazing venue! We fell in love with it the second we set foot in it and so did all of our guests. It was extremely spacious, cold (necessary for a June wedding!), cozy a...
nd inviting all in one. I would recommend this venue and it's staff to anyone!
The second I walked into The Laboratory Mill, I knew right away that it was going to be my wedding venue. The building is so beautiful, you don't even need much decor! The staff is...
so friendly and accommodating. I went to visit the venue several times after booking it with different friends and family, and they always worked around my schedule to make sure we could come at a time convenient for us. The staff is so obviously experienced and passionate in what they do. I loved how they gave my husband and I assistants the day of to help us with anything we needed. They even gave us walkie talkies to easily communicate with her! I am so happy that I found The Laboratory Mill. I hope they still let me visit :)
The people at The Laboratory Mill are what make this the best venue out there. They answered all of our questions, walked us through each step, were honest and clear, and the day o...
f the wedding was a breeze. The venue itself is absolutely GORGEOUS too. I honestly didn't have to do too much decorating because the venue was beautiful all on its own. I HIGHLY recommend this venue to all of my engaged friends!
I cannot rave enough about the Laboratory Mill. Not only was the staff so incredibly kind and supportive, but they helped make their beautiful mill a place my husband and I will al...
ways remember. They did just about anything for my family and friends to make our wedding day exactly how I hoped it would be. I am so grateful for the staff at the Mill and everyone who worked behind the details! Pick the Mill and you will not regret it!
We felt like we were living in a fairy tale during our daughter’s wedding on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Laboratory Mill is a romantic, beautiful venue with rich history. The view fr...
om the windows of the flowing river is unique and charming. The owners and staff are kind, professional, genuine people and we can’t say enough good things about them. From the day of our tour to the day of the wedding, they couldn’t have been more helpful. They were always one step ahead of us for all of our needs. I also used their recommended vendors and couldn’t have been more pleased. Thank you so much for making Emily and Ryan’s dreams come true for a perfect wedding day!
The Laboratory Mill is a magical place with amazing staff and perfect locations for beautiful photography!
The Laboratory Mill is the perfect place to be married. It has both rustic charm and timeless elegance with a beautiful scenery. They respond to call/emails in a timely manner an...
d offer help during the chaotic process of wedding planning. The staff made sure our wedding was perfect and kept a professional demeanor at all times. One, of the many, amenities they provide is clean-up services! After dancing the night away with family and friends, I was extremely grateful that by 11:00pm, we were able to simply leave without the worry of finding people to help clean the area. I could go on with the other wonderful amenities including: tables, chairs, vintage furniture pieces, etc., but words can't do the place justice! They made our dream wedding come true, so I'm positive that they can do the same thing for you!
As soon as we visited the Laboratory Mill I knew we had to book it- absolutely perfect! Easy to work with, very accommodating and professional.
I couldn't imagine a more beautiful day. During the wedding planning process, we worked with Linda at the Laboratory Mill. She is not only the most genuine, sweetest, caring person...
I've ever met, but she is also incredibly knowledgeable about all of the in's and out's of the wedding industry. We booked the Mill at an incredibly low price because we had our wedding on a Sunday in February (highly recommend) and I never once felt that I lost any special experience by doing so. The entire Laboratory Mill team was there the morning of my wedding and happy to assist in any way. They made me feel like a princess and from parking to the last dance, everything was seamless. I planned and designed the entire wedding by myself, and it was so refreshing to have a whole team of people dedicated to making my day the best ever! Linda was incredibly accommodating and let me in the venue early in the morning to set up, assisted with anything that I needed help with, was available for any needs during the ceremony or reception, helped my vendors (catering and DJ) get situated, and handled clean-up. I can't wait to find a reason to have events here in the future! I love this team of people!
More perfect than I could have ever imagined! Linda was great to work with and super helpful. The space itself is so incredibly gorgeous that you hardly need outside decoration. I...
t was everything I dreamed of and more. If you are thinking about it, DO IT! You won't regret it!
The Laboratory Mill the is most amazing place to celebrate such a special time - we wouldn't have changed a thing! Linda and everyone at the Mill are so helpful and work endlessly ...
to make sure everything is exactly the way you want it. We wouldn't have wanted our wedding anywhere else. Not only did we love everything about the venue and it's staff but our guests loved it too! And there are so many places on the property to get amazing pictures that you'll treasure for a lifetime. Highly, highly recommend the Mill and all the lovely staff! They will make your event amazing!
The Laboratory Mill was the perfect setting for our wedding! Linda and staff were so accommodating and went out of their way to help in any way they could. This place is absolutel...
y stunning! Loved everything about the mill, they are so professional and put our minds at ease! I would highly recommend anyone planning an event to visit and you won't be disappointed.
When I first got engaged, my fiance and I looked at seven wedding venues in a week. We knew that we wanted to have the ceremony and reception all in one location. The seventh place...
we went to was the Laboratory Mill. When I walked in I knew immediately this was where my wedding had to be! For months leading up to the wedding the staff at the mill went above and beyond to make sure that everything was perfect for my special day. I was able to come and go any time I wanted and on my actual wedding day it truly felt like the building was mine for the whole day. All night long everyone remarked on the natural beauty of the building and the surroundings. I can honestly not imagine having my wedding anywhere else. If you are looking for a setting that can be rustic or extremely formal and elegant, if you are looking for a place where your wedding is truly something special and not just a pay day for some owner, if you are looking to feel like a million dollars but not have to spend it, then I cannot recommend the Laboratory Mill enough! Besides saying yes to my now husband, choosing the Laboratory Mill was the best decision I have made!
In the small town of Lincolnton, tucked in the woods right on the South Fork River, you will find the Laboratory Mill. When you drive down the graveled driveway, you will instantly...
be amazed at the beauty and historic value in this place. There is something about this location and this venue that puts the mind at ease and makes you enjoy this small town even more. Then, walk inside...you will most likely meet John, Cindy, or Jay (or all of the above). This is where my story starts. This family was the "icing on the cake." From the day I toured the Mill, to breaking down all of the wedding décor, these three people helped make my dream become a reality. While planning our wedding, my number one goal was to make it stress free for all (esp. my mom). The Laboratory Mill (TLM) jumped on board with all of my ideas and helped me sort through the details to make it as smooth as possible. If I ever asked them to do anything, I never got another response other than "of course."
The weekend of the "big day..." I don't even know where to begin. John or Jay were there every hour I had someone in the Mill decorating. They helped us the entire weekend (Friday-Sunday) with set up and break down. They also helped out all of my vendors with where to place things and helping my wedding planner keep up with the different vendors coming in. The day of the wedding, they recruited so much other help to help people park and just keep extra eyes on the event.
I could go on and on all day about TLM! What a wonderful venue and wonderful owners that have created a wonderful atmosphere for the perfect wedding! If you choose TLM, get ready for the most fun, beautiful, and stress FREE wedding day!
The Laboratory Mill was exactly what my husband and I wanted our wedding venue to be! It has an elegant but relaxed feel and is stunning both indoors and out. I mean, it has a beac...
h and waterfall for crying out loud! Cyndi, John, and J all went above and beyond to make our wedding day run smoothly and perfect for us. J wired my chandelier to a drop cord and hung it on the stage for the ceremony for me. That was my dream and vision when I first saw the venue and J made it happen! We had full access to the venue and were able to get our hair and makeup done there, have food delivered for lunch, and just relax for a one-stop shop! They let my planner and other vendors deliver things that could be setup early during the week prior to our wedding day, which made everything run so smoothly the day of. Months later I still have guests commenting on how it was the most beautiful venue they had ever seen! I just love this place so much and comment to my husband that I just want to go back and visit it is so beautiful! Cyndi, J and John showed genuine care and concern to make sure everything was just as we hoped. I cannot thank them enough for our perfect wedding day and would recommend the Laboratory Mill to anyone!
I can not say enough about the Laboratory Mill... First of all, the venue is unbelievably gorgeous. In the small quaint town of Lincolnton, it offers that cozy small town feel whil...
e elegant at the same time. The pictures from the venue turned out lovely, the lighting is perfect, and the venue decorates the wedding all on its own. The venue makes it easy to add your own flare, or if your budget is low, the beauty of the venue itself could easily be your decor. We did our wedding as well as our reception at the Laboratory Mill, which proves that it is just as efficient for large crowds (325 people) as well as small.
Aside from the aesthetics of the venue, the real beauty is found in the management and ownership. This team is incredible. I can not express how easy they make things for the bride and groom, their efficiency, their willingness to work with vendors, and their timely manner in all that they do. My wedding day was not stressful, because they KNOW how to do their job and they do it well. More than anything, they do all that they can to ensure that the bride is happy. There is nothing that I can recall where John did not answer, "Absolutely. We can do that." I have always believed that good business begins with good people, and that is clearly evident in the way that this venue operates. I would highly recommend ANY kind of bride to look into this unique, elegant, and charming venue. You will not be disappointed. The venue and more importantly the hearts and brains behind the venue, truly helped create the very best day of my life.
My husband and I were married at The Laboratory Mill on May 24, 2014. We had our ceremony and reception there. I have nothing but absolutely wonderful things to say about my entire...
experience at The Laboratory Mill. Cyndi and John went above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of in the months leading up to our wedding and the day of. John was there the entire day of the wedding to ensure everything went off without a hitch. The Laboratory Mill itself is absolutely gorgeous inside and out. Every guest at our wedding commented on how beautiful and unique it was. It also made for wonderful pictures. Both my husband and I couldn't be happier with how our big day went and it is due in large part to our gorgeous location and everyone who works at the Laboratory Mill!
Contact
848 South Fork Road, Lincolnton, NC
The Laboratory Mill