Dolores Catania was still basking in her newly engaged glow while attending BravoCon 2025.
“I’m kind of on a high. It’s surreal to me,” the Real Housewives of New Jersey star, 54, gushed to Us Weekly exclusively on Friday, November 14.
Days before she jetted off to Las Vegas for the three-day fan convention, news broke on Wednesday, November 12, that Dolores’ longtime boyfriend, Paulie Connell, proposed after nearly five years together. She shared more details on the sentimental proposal with Us on Friday while flashing her massive diamond ring on the red carpet.
“Paulie reenacted our whole first day that we were together, from the time we met until at night, when we went out to eat,” she said. “I walked into the Apple Store thinking I was getting a new phone. We walked over to the table where we first met — because the day we were supposed to go on our date, both our phones broke, and we wound up being at the Apple Store at the same time. … So he reenacted that moment so beautifully. He said the nicest things to me.”
RHONJ’s Dolores Catania and Paulie Connell’s Relationship Timeline
Dolores said Paulie’s words meant more to her in that moment than the ring did. In fact, she had no say in picking out the rock — a custom piece by New Jersey’s own John Anthony Jewelers featuring 11 carats of diamonds.
“I never talked about it,” she said. “I don’t want to ask someone to do the right thing … so I never told him, ‘Get divorced.’ I never said, ‘I want to get engaged, otherwise I’m leaving. Everyone’s saying s*** about me.’ So I wanted it to be done naturally. I never cared what anyone thought, and I knew Paulie would do the right thing when the time was right.”
Both Dolores and Paulie have been married before. Dolores shares two children — daughter Gabby and son Frankie — with ex-husband Frank Catania, who has been a fixture on RHONJ through the years.
Paulie, meanwhile, was still legally married to his ex-wife when he began dating Dolores in 2021, despite being separated for more than 15 years. His divorce was finalized earlier this year.
“He was happy to close that chapter,” Dolores told Us on Friday of her fiancé’s previous relationship. “And one thing I did always feel — and him as well — was I didn’t want this to happen until that was done.”
‘RHONJ’ Star Dolores Catania’s Son Frankie Engaged to Girlfriend Nicole
When it comes to planning the actual wedding, Dolores hasn’t quite had a chance to think about specifics, but her loved ones couldn’t be more excited for what’s next. Fellow RHONJ cast members, including Melissa Gorga, congratulated the happy couple at BravoCon on Friday.
“I’m so happy for Dolores,” Melissa, 46, exclusively told Us. “I just want to see Dolores get married one day. I am so happy that she is a fiancé and her rock, I mean, my God. I’m so happy.”
Melissa hinted that she “knew” the big milestone was on the way before Paulie proposed. “I didn’t know the day, but he had told me he was going to do it,” she said. “And I kept my mouth shut. But I was dying to tell her.”
