Detectives Jay Halstead and Hailey Upton tied the knot in Chicago PD season 13, they’d almost definitely receive an eager welcome.

In the meantime, while it may not be one of Chicago PD’s biggest unanswered questions, a fun new detail regarding Upton and Halstead’s wedding in Chicago PD season 9 has come to light by way of costume designer Susan Kaufmann. As it turns out, Kaufmann would have liked to put Upton in bridalwear that would have challenged feminine fashion stereotypes. Speaking with TVInsider partner site Swooon, Kaufmann explains:

“I wanted to [put Upton in a wedding dress], but no, it was never even an option.

I think hers would have probably been nontraditional because I dressed her very edgy and a little grungier and stuff. She’s got a knockout figure. She’s beautiful. So I think it would have been something a little less traditional but still feminine.”

This would have differed significantly from the dress worn by actor Marina Squerciati when Kim Burgess was briefly shown marrying Adam Ruzek in the Chicago PD season 12 finale. Burgess wears a much more traditional wedding gown that Kaufmann refers to as “simple and beautiful and believable,” adding:

“Her style is pretty fashionable and pretty but very simple. I wanted it to be super flattering and just have a wow about it that isn’t in your face.”

What Hailey Upton’s Dress Would Have Meant For Chicago PD

It Would Have Been More Difficult To Justify

First and foremost, Kaufmann’s comments suggest that Upton donning a wedding dress in Chicago PD was likely never in the cards. If it was, even briefly, then it seems to have been cut from the script before a copy ever made it to wardrobe. Although it might have made sense for Burgess and Ruzek’s Chicago PD wedding, the fact is that a traditional wedding with tons of guests didn’t fit with Hailey and Jay’s storyline in season 9. With Upton’s role in a suspect’s death being investigated by the FBI, the marriage itself took precedence over planning an elaborate ceremony.

It might seem as if Halstead and Upton could have simply waited until the smoke had cleared to organize a larger affair, but that would have likely meant that their marriage never happened at all. Soffer left the series three episodes into the following season, and Upton divorced Halstead in the first episode of season 11 after previously receiving blunt advice from Voight. Their long-distance marriage following Halstead’s deployment to Bolivia wasn’t exactly one of Chicago PD’s best relationships. There would have been no reason to see Jay and Hailey marry at all once the crew knew of Soffer’s departure.

Our Take On Hailey Upton’s Wedding Dress In Chicago PD

All Sides Of The Creative Team Are Working In Tandem

Kim Burgess and Adam Ruzek’s wedding was cut short compared to what many fans might have expected, but Kaufmann’s comments highlight how much work nonetheless went into it. She makes it clear that Kim and Hailey’s dresses were both inspired by their characterization in the story and their portrayal by their respective Chicago PD actors. Upton’s dress may only exist in theory, but it’s nonetheless a lovely reassurance that the art department is working closely with the writers and showrunners to keep the characters consistent. That’s far more valuable to the series’ fans than a single unseen costume design.

Source: Swooon

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