A wafer carrier and methods of making the same for use in a system for growing epitaxial layers on one or more wafers by chemical vapor deposition. The wafer carrier includes wafer retention pockets recessed in its body. A thermally-insulating spacer is situated at least partially in the at least one wafer retention pocket and arranged to maintain a spacing between the peripheral wall surface and the wafer, the spacer being constructed from a material having a thermal conductivity less than a thermal conductivity of the wafer carrier such that the spacer limits heat conduction from portions of the wafer carrier body to the wafer. The wafer carrier further includes a spacer retention feature that engages with the spacer and includes a surface oriented to prevent centrifugal movement of the spacer when subjected to rotation about the central axis.