Wedding DJ at Carolina Grace Lake Norman in Cornelius, NC

The Space

Carolina Grace is a 100-foot custom-built luxury yacht docked at Kings Point Marina in Cornelius on Lake Norman. Luxury Yacht Charters, which operates the vessel, was established in 1999 and began with a converted houseboat. The Carolina Grace itself was manufactured in Kentucky on Lake Cumberland and transported overland to Lake Norman in 2017, where it serves exclusively as a floating event venue. The yacht was delivered in two large pieces and reassembled upon arrival. The name was chosen through a fan "Name That Yacht" contest. The vessel is the largest yacht in the Carolinas by capacity.

The yacht features two bars, four bathrooms, a catering kitchen, and a bridal suite. Upper and lower decks provide both indoor and outdoor event spaces. Guests can swim off the back of the yacht during their event, adding a unique water recreation element to the celebration. The Lake Norman setting with 21,000 acres of water creates a scenic backdrop entirely different from land-based venues.

Capacity & Layout

Carolina Grace accommodates groups from 10 to 100 guests seated, with standing capacity up to 150 guests. The yacht is open seven days a week and available year-round, with a heated upper deck designed for comfort in cooler months. The two-deck layout allows for ceremony on one level, cocktails on the other, and movement between spaces during the celebration. The bridal suite provides private space for the couple to prepare or take a moment together during the event.

The vessel’s design specifically as a floating event space means every feature serves entertaining. The compact footprint makes the space feel intimate while still accommodating substantial groups.

Amenities

The yacht includes two bars (one interior, one on the heated upper deck), four bathrooms, and a full catering kitchen on board. The heated upper deck ensures year-round usability. Catering Creations provides the food and beverage services. The bridal suite offers private preparation space with its own bathroom. The lower deck provides an interior bar and lounge area, while the upper deck offers open-air space with heating and lake views. Guests can swim off the yacht’s back platform during the event.

Ten percent of all private yacht cruise rentals benefit Charters for Charity, a local non-profit supporting causes like the Thomas Davis Foundation and OpWalk Carolinas. Kings Point Marina provides on-site parking for guests arriving by car.

Location & Getting There

Lake Norman stretches 21,000 acres across the Charlotte metro area near Cornelius, North Carolina. The lake was created by damming the Catawba River, and Kings Point Marina sits on the western shore. The location is accessible from Charlotte, approximately 22 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The yacht is docked permanently at Kings Point and departs from there, so guests know exactly where to arrive and board. The open water and distant shoreline create a feeling of escape, yet the lake is surrounded by suburban development and easily accessible from Charlotte.

A floating venue creates acoustic challenges and advantages: sound carries differently over water, and the yacht’s enclosed spaces can be used to contain a DJ setup, while the upper deck’s open air means sound projects outward across the water naturally without the hard surfaces of a traditional venue to create reflection, making careful speaker placement crucial for guests spread across both decks.