About this vendor
The Rafters at Historic St. Mark’s is more than a wedding venue — it is a place with purpose, where every celebration helps create something lasting and meaningful. All of our proceeds support Flyin' Lion Ministries, a culinary school that helps adults with exceptional needs transition toward independence and employment. When you choose The Rafters, you are not only planning a beautiful day — you are becoming part of a story that uplifts others.
Modern elegance and historic 1800s charm come together at The Rafters to create a setting that feels both refined and timeless. Just fifteen minutes from uptown Charlotte, the campus still feels wonderfully secluded, tucked beneath acres of century-old trees. The exposed beam reception hall adds warmth, character, and grandeur, offering a stunning backdrop for the moments you will remember forever.
At The Rafters, hospitality is at the heart of everything we do. From the moment you arrive, you will feel the warmth of a venue built to welcome, celebrate, and care for couples and their guests. The entire campus reflects a deep sense of community, making your wedding day feel personal, meaningful, and joy-filled. Here, your celebration is not just hosted — it is embraced.
Blending Traditional and Contemporary
We offer several ceremony sites to match the unique personalities and values of each couple. Built in 1886 and listed on the historic register, the Chapel at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church has stood as a beacon of inclusion for over 130 years. The spirit of All are Welcome is woven into the chapel itself, giving the space a sense of openness, love, and belonging. When the heavy wooden door opens, you are swept back into a simpler time, and one of peace and love.The Outdoor Chapel is a beautifully rustic ceremony setting surrounded by towering trees and natural serenity. Nestled in the landscape and located right beside The Rafters, it offers an enchanting backdrop for couples who dream of exchanging vows beneath the open sky. The Rafters, our newly constructed reception hall, boasts picturesque, vaulted ceilings and exposed beams that can transform with lights and decorations to match your wedding vision.
Convenient Packages
We offer convenience through our on-site catering options, as well as a competitively-priced, full weekend package to accommodate rehearsal dinners and make your experience as special and seamless as possible. If you have questions or would like to learn more, we would love to hear from you!
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Covered Outdoors Space
Liability Insurance
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Settings
- Backyard
- Barn
- Estate
- Garden
- Historic Venue
- Park
Venue Service Offerings
- Cakes & Desserts
- Cupcakes
- Other Desserts
- Food & Catering
- Rentals & Equipment
- Service Staff
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
5
out of 5.09 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 6
A much overdue review, but we had the absolute best experience getting married at The Rafters at Historic St. Mark’s. From the beginning, Allison was wonderful to work with and hel...
ped bring our vision to life. She was so kind, organized, and easy to communicate with, which made the entire planning process so much less stressful.
The venue itself is absolutely beautiful and has so much character. It was the perfect setting for our wedding, and everything came together even better than we imagined. On the wedding day, everything ran so smoothly, and we were able to truly relax and enjoy every moment because we knew we were in great hands.
We couldn’t have asked for a better venue or a better team. We are so grateful to Allison and everyone at The Rafters at Historic St. Mark’s for helping make our wedding day so special. We would recommend this venue to anyone in a heartbeat!
We highly recommend the Rafters! We wanted to get married in church, and we also really wanted a fun and pretty reception venue that people wouldn’t have to drive to from the cerem...
ony, so the Rafters was the perfect option for us! We had 115 guests, and it felt like just the right size. It is really easy to get to from the Charlotte airport, which was important because we had a lot of international guests. The church and the venue were both gorgeous, and they also provided a large selection of free decorations we used. We only paid bought candles (the candle vases were provided) and flowers - everything else came from the venue, which helped save money and a lot of time. We also got our catering through Flyin’ Lion, which is the in house catering group at The Rafters, and they were really flexible with helping us set up a delicious menu. Everyone we worked with was very helpful and friendly, and Allison especially helped answer all of our questions quickly. Overall, the Rafters was the perfect wedding venue for us!
Wow. What a fun and sweet venue. Church, Reception Hall, and optional onsite catering make for easy one-stop shopping. The folks here are super friendly and professional.
This is where you want to get married! First, it’s beautiful. We did our ceremony at a Catholic church down the street and had our reception at the Rafters, but my favorite photos ...
are by far the ones we took in front of the St Mark’s chapel- it’s so romantic! As a reception venue, it is very reasonably priced, and has everything you could need. We got ready in the adorable carriage house, and we also did my bridal shoot there a few weeks before the wedding- they turned out beautifully. Also, if you book with their caterer (The Flyin’ Lions), you get a discount AND support a good cause! But that’s not even the best part: their food is AMAZING. I am literally still dreaming about the salmon and mashed potatoes from my wedding day, and so many guests told me how much they loved the food. The taste testing was fun too, they have a ton of options! Also, Allison is the best coordinator EVER. You will love working with her, and every vendor I hired that had worked with her before told me the same thing! She is so personable and really gets to know you, and she will bend over backwards to help you with whatever you need. She is fantastic with communication; her responsiveness and helpfulness alone reduced my wedding planning stress. I also loved the preferred vendor list Allison provided; it made it a lot easier to narrow down our vendor choices! Allison and Debbie (from Flyin’ Lions) made our wedding and all the months leading up to it so special and wonderful; we cannot recommend them enough!
I am embarrassed at how late this review is, but it is well deserved! We booked The Rafters back in July 2021 right after they had opened. Taking a chance on this new venue that ha...
d just opened was risky, but one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. We were attracted to The Rafters by their all inclusive packages, and sold by the beautiful grounds, venue, and amenities. It was a huge bonus that most of what we had envisioned for our wedding decor, they already had in their inventory of decorations. Allison was incredibly helpful from start to finish, and we knew we were in good hands. We were also blown away by their in-house caterer, Flyin' Lion. Not only do they have an amazing mission behind what they are doing, but the food was incredible. We had so many compliments on how great the food was – especially the desserts – and wish we could have brought home more leftovers. We would highly recommend The Rafters for any wedding and are so glad we chose them for our day.
I can't say enough wonderful things about The Rafters! Whatever your style may be, these guys can make it happen.
Allison went over and beyond to help us coordinate. I called her...
A LOT leading up to our wedding and she always did all she could to make whatever it was work. She has decorations saved from previous events that she gives you access to, she assists with busy schedules and works with you to meet when it's convenient. She's also really crafty and gives great input on ideas whether it's regarding decor or details to make the day run smoothly. We chose to use the church sanctuary, but you can also chose to use their outdoor chapel if that is more your style. Their bridal suite and groom suite are absolutely perfect. Go tour and see for yourself!
We also chose to use Flyin' Lion catering which is an option when booking with The Rafters, and working with Sue was just as easy. She set up a tasting with our 3 preferred dishes for us to decide (a sit-down, elegantly served meal!) and was able to help us with various wedding guest dietary restrictions (vegan, vegetarian, and GF). When I asked for a appetizers to be passed around during cocktail hour, she made it happen and although I wasn't around for cocktail hour, I received so much wonderful feedback from guests about how elegant it was.
This venue has the ability to meet any style and they work with so much love in their heart. If you're wondering if it's the right fit for you, just set up a tour with Allison and I promise you won't be looking much longer!
Allison and Sue were easy to work with and did everything with precision and detail. They were prompt and attentive in the planning and on day of. The food was delicious and we di...
d not run out of anything. All went perfectly and I would 100% recommend them. We used the chapel and the reception area and both are lovely settings.
The Rafters at St. Mark’s is simply beautiful!!! As a Wedding Planner/Designer/Coordinator I have seen my share of venues…..not only are the grounds gorgeous but the sanctuary is ...
exquisite and the reception area is equally perfect. Best of all is the support and guidance received by their onsite wedding coordinator Allison. She went the extra mile to make sure that everything was stress free for my bride and was my right hand woman!!
Thank you to Allison, St. Mark’s and The Rafters! I highly recommend!!
We absolutely LOVE this little church! It was the perfect size for our intimate ceremony, and the inside of the church was recently refurbished with beautiful new carpet and altar...
pieces. The church grounds are stunning, and I especially loved the "Bride's Suite" in the Parish House.
If you take one step onto this beautiful campus, you will fall in love with the history, the romance, and the sacred ground of St. Mark's. The staff are very flexible and willing to work with you, and I loved that I could customize my personal touches with the holiness of the church.
Thank you for helping make our big day even more perfect!
Contact
8600 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road, Huntersville, NC
The Rafters at Historic St. Mark's