Escape to 49th street!
Written by Taryn King, editor | Banner Photo Credit: Greg Poulos
For thousands, Ocean City, Maryland is a yearly vacation hub that offers everything from sand and surf to bar-hopping, mini golf, and a plethora of dining options. But when you think of what the area has to offer in terms of wedding venues, the usual options that come to mind are either the beach, hotel ballrooms, or a trip further inland.
While there are certainly other lovely options available that don’t get the attention they deserve, there is one in particular that is still a veritable secret in its newness—Area 51.
Opened in 2023, Area 51 is housed on the grounds of an iconic business that got its start in 1988 as a tiki bar. Located at 49th street, this sprawling complex boasts not only Area 51, but 9 venue spaces in total: including Seacrets Distilling Company, The Office, Your Seacret Beach, and multiple indoor and outdoor locations within the heart of Seacrets that vary in size and intimacy.
Seaside Bride met up with Heidi O’Donnell, Events Director, and Abbey Gold, Marketing Director for a behind-the-scenes tour of everything the Seacrets complex has to offer. “Seacrets is bringing it full circle—from the casual bar experience to fine dining, upscale events,” said Heidi.
Known primarily for its Jamaica-USA vibes, Seacrets certainly excels are recreating the tropic oasis experience. But what makes Area 51, The Office, and the Distilling Company true hidden gems in the venue world is the lavish, unexpected opulence waiting behind their doors.
Area 51 is located on the top floor of the Atlantic Beverage Center, and from the road, at night you might catch a glimpse of the impressive chandeliers and stained glass sparkling in a tantalizing hint of what the space has to offer. A serendipitous amalgamation of Art Deco, antique space-themed elements, and exposed brick, the “out of this world” concept is truly must-see. The attention to detail is spectacular, specifically the pair of 1964 World’s Fair rockets framing the 1930s Chicago back bar, the giant waterfall chandelier, Moravian star pendant lights, and the authentic Art Deco bathroom and exit signs. Seacret’s owner, Leighton Moore hand-picked every antique and stained-glass window in the complex—a testament to his dedication to creating authentic experiences for clients and customers. To top it off, the bay front windows open to the ceiling for a gorgeous, unobstructed view of Assawoman Bay. Able to accommodate up to 267 guests, this is the perfect space for large weddings and events.
Also housed in the building is The Office. Reminiscent of an English pub, echoes of the above venue can be seen in more stunning stained glass, opulent chandeliers, and bay front windows. This space is ideal for wedding day prep, rehearsal dinners, and small dinner parties.
For another playful yet fabulous period theme, The Secrets Distilling Company not only operates as a working distillery but also takes a step back in time to the roaring 20s speakeasy. The location is warm but elaborate and boasts a secret elevator, phoned-in “prescriptive” access, more stunning antiques, and decorative accents that complete the experience. “Everything from the lighting, doors, windows, and antiques featured inside Seacrets Distillery are from 1933 – the year prohibition ended – or earlier.” An intimate space, this location is perfect for bridal showers, bachelor party kickoffs, and first-look moments.
Finally, we toured the secluded tropical oasis, Your Secret Beach. An untouched 250’ bayfront beach property overlooking the bay, Heidi pointed out the custom archway lining the dock, “The bride or the entire bridal party can take the Seacrets’ ‘Tipsy’ shuttle boat from Wight Bay and arrive at our private dock for their ceremony. It makes quite an entrance.” This space is perfect for a tropical or sunset wedding and creates a cozy evening atmosphere with a private gated entrance and surrounding lush greenery.
Most venues have booking schedules months or even years in advance. But Seacrets Events does things a little differently. “We’re all about flexible scheduling,” said Abbey, “Call us and we’ll work with your needs. We want clients to feel at ease—no deadlines or stress here. We’re easy to work with.”
One element that makes working with Secrets a breeze is the “one-stop-shop” approach. All weddings and events are fully staffed and executed from the planning stage to the ceremony, to the final exit. All catering is done in-house (except cakes/desserts), and venue fees cover logistical concerns, including but not limited to bar access, event setup and breakdown, AV, cake cutting, and cover fees for the nite club.
“We don’t have a lot of restrictions, but we don’t allow confetti canons and AV must be hooked into our house system to avoid excessive sound that might disturb the neighboring community,” said Heidi. “If you’re on the private beach, music ends at 10 pm, but that’s a perfect time to move the party over to the nite club with cover fees on us.”
Secrets Events also provides clients with a list of suggested local vendors—some of the best in the area—covering florals, photography, cakes, attire, beauty, and officiants. “Your venue should be there from the beginning to the end—the moment you book, they should be there offering vendor suggestions, helping you along, to the moment you pack up your last car. That's how you know they're a good venue.” Said Heidi.
Before leaving, we took a brief peek at a new space called The Hideaway, located just off the private beach and offering yet another intimate space that is available during the day for a quiet getaway with drinks and friends, and can be booked for rehearsal dinners and other celebratory events.
If there’s one thing that’s clear as you navigate the Seacrets complex, it’s that Leighton Moore knows how to design memorable spaces and venues that clients can escape to with ease. Escape to 49th Street and create your perfect celebration with Seacrets Events! For updates on their newest location, overviews of other Seacrets venue options, and contact information, visit www.seacretsevents.com
