Exclusive Interview
‘Chicago P.D.’ Costume Designer Reveals What Upton’s Wedding Dress Would Have Looked Like
Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) and Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) had a no-frills wedding back in Chicago P.D. Season 9. In a simple courthouse wedding, basically still in their everyday clothes, Upstead tied the knot.
Unfortunately, their marriage didn’t last. (Maybe someday they’ll reunite!) While discussing Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) and Adam Ruzek’s (Patrick John Flueger) wedding, Swooon asked One Chicago costume designer Susan Kaufmann about whether or not there was a conversation about Upton wearing a wedding dress on her big day.
“I wanted to, but no, it was never even an option,” Kaufmann told Swooon.
Naturally, we had to ask Kaufmann what her vision would have been for Upton’s bridal look. “I think hers would have probably been nontraditional because I dressed her very edgy and a little grungier and stuff,” she revealed. “She’s got a knockout figure. She’s beautiful. So I think it would have been something a little less traditional but still feminine.”
The costume designer got the chance to do a complete bridal look with Burgess at the end of Season 12. Kaufmann noted that it was important to find a wedding dress for Burgess that was “simple and beautiful and believable.” She added, “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.”
Upton and Halstead didn’t attend the Burzek wedding, but they’ve been busy offscreen. The former couple said “I do” in Season 9, only for Halstead to enlist in the Army to fight drug cartels in Bolivia. Navigating their long-distance relationship and communication issues led to a breakdown in Upstead’s marriage. Upton ultimately filed for divorce and left the Intelligence Unit at the end of Season 11 for a fresh start.
In real life, Spiridakos and Soffer have seemingly found love together, although they’ve never confirmed their romance publicly. They frequently post photos together from their travels abroad.
Chicago P.D., Season 13, Fall 2025, NBC
