Wedding bells were once again heard throughout the Windy City this week when Chicago P.D.’s Burgess and Ruzek, at long last, got married during the Season 12 finale. (Read our post-mortem interview with showrunner Gwen Sigan for scoop on the vow-less nuptials.)
As #Burzek tied the knot, they carried on a long tradition of #OneChicago couples who have gotten hitched throughout the franchise’s history. Between Fire, P.D. and Med, the three dramas have hosted a whopping 12 weddings, ranging from lavish church affairs to spur-of-the-moment courthouse vow exchanges to… fish store and bowling alley nuptials. (When things go wrong, you can’t say the Chicago crews aren’t good at creative problem solving!) We even got a cross-show wedding when a fan-favorite Fire/P.D. couple made their commitment official.
Not all of the ceremonies resulted in long-lasting marriages (sorry, “Dawsey” and “Upstead” ‘shippers), and a certain Med pair’s plan to become husband and wife was thwarted by a dangerous twist. Still, each wedding was memorable and special in its own way, for better or for worse. But only one can hold the title of the best #OneChicago wedding.
Read on to review TVLine’s rankings, then hit the comments with your thoughts on which #OneChicago nuptials were wedded bliss and which missed the mark.
When you’re left anxiously waiting at the church for your groom, only for him to show up bloodied and announce that he’s being taken into protective custody, your ill-fated wedding, unfortunately, automatically goes to the bottom of this list. And while Will and Natalie didn’t get married, at least we can comfort ourselves with the knowledge that they did, eventually, end up together. (Season 4, Episode 9)
11.Daniel and Caroline, Chicago Med
With her health deteriorating, Caroline and Daniel weren’t able to have the Honolulu wedding they dreamed off, but they got the next best thing: Daniel orchestrated an intimate, luau-themed ceremony on a boat, remarrying his first wife as their daughter Robin, his mother Margaret and his best friend Sharon watched. Because no matter how much time you have, every moment is precious. (Season 4, Episode 22)
10.Halstead and Upton, Chicago P.D.
Much like the detectives, Halstead and Upton’s nuptials were a no-frills event. “Marry me. Now,” Halstead asked, and that’s just what the pair did, immediately heading to the courthouse, sans any friends, family or witnesses, to tie the knot. Perhaps the spur-of-the-moment decision and the lack of fanfare were a bad omen for the couple, who would later divorce. (Season 9, Episode 9)
9.Maggie and Ben, Chicago Med
After their venue had a sewer issue and their flowers got frostbite damage, Ben stepped up and helped his overwhelmed future wife pivot in a new direction, surprising her with a bowling alley wedding! It wasn’t conventional, but it sure did provide for a fun way to celebrate after the ceremony as the bride, groom and their guests all rolled to the sounds of Heavy D & The Boyz’s “Now That We Found Love.” (Season 5, Episode 17)
8.Burgess and Ruzek, Chicago P.D.
For a moment, it looked dicey as to whether the couple would actually go through with their wedding, but thankfully, they decided not to postpone in the aftermath of Reid’s death. And for the first time in the show’s history, P.D. gave us a traditional church wedding, with a beaming Burgess walking down the aisle in a gorgeous gown. It’s just too bad that, after waiting 12 seasons for this moment, we didn’t get to hear Burgess and Ruzek exchange vows, and that Chapman and Voight’s confrontation about Reid’s murder overshadowed the nuptials. (Season 12, Episode 22)
7.Cruz and Chloe, Chicago Fire
On the day of his wedding, Cruz declined Boden’s offer to have a floater sub for him, and he paid for that decision. A scuffle with some protesters who chained themselves to Firehouse 51’s trucks led to Cruz getting stitches over his eyebrow. As his bride walked down the aisle and spotted the wound, stopping dead in her tracks, Cruz mouthed, “I’m so sorry,” but Chloe only replied back, “I love you,” proving these two are meant to be (and that Chloe is one very understanding bride, because that bandage is going to be in all their wedding photos). And the fact that Cruz and Chloe got married in the firefighters’ church, one of only a handful of structures to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871? Perfection. (Season 8, Episode 19)
6.April and Ethan, Chicago Med
Bringing back Yaya DaCosta’s April Sexton and having her reunite with Ethan Choi provided for the perfect way to write out Brian Tee’s character. The couple’s rekindled romance culminated with them tying the knot in a big, stunning church worthy of April’s ballgown dress. The pair capped off their happy ending and started their new life together by boarding a Docs on Wheels van with a “Just Married” sign. Way to ride off into the sunset in perfect “Chexton” fashion! (Season 8, Episode 9)
