Dolores Catania Says She Feels Blessed and Ecstatic After Getting Engaged to Paul “Paulie” Connell
Dolores Catania Says She Feels Blessed and Ecstatic After Getting Engaged to Paul “Paulie” Connell
Dolores Catania is officially off the market!
The Real Housewives of New Jersey star, 54, is engaged to longtime boyfriend Paul “Paulie” Connell, 51 — and she couldn’t be happier. “I’m ecstatic!” Dolores tells PEOPLE in an exclusive joint interview with Paul. “You know when you feel that happiness down in your gut? That’s where this excitement stems from for me. I feel so blessed, I almost feel guilty! Like I don’t deserve to be loved this way.”
Paul Connell adds, “I keep telling Dolores, she deserves that and so much more. She’s an incredible woman. And when I was proposing to her, I was able to articulate to her everything I see that she is, and everything I see that she does, and the impact she has on everybody around her. She’s one in a million.”
The couple began dating in 2020, and while viewers were eager to see them tie the knot, Dolores says the timing now feels right. “I’ve never been so sure of something ever,” she shares. “Patience is a big thing for us. When we first met, Paul wasn’t used to being in the public eye. There were things in his life he needed to sort through, and that took time. But I never pushed him — I wanted him to do the right thing on his own. Our bond is stronger now because of that.”
Paul agrees. “Oh, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made,” he says. “Everything that has happened has brought me to this moment. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, from the streets of Dublin, and feel lucky to have Dolores in my life. She’s made me a better version of myself.”
Paul Connell popped the question on November 10 at a place that holds special meaning — the Apple Store in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, where the couple first met. “I could have proposed on a yacht in Greece or rented a grand hall with fireworks,” Paul says. “But that’s not who we are. We’re a humble couple. I wanted it to feel grounded and natural and organic — plus, I wanted the element of surprise. And believe me, I had the element of surprise.”
Dolores laughs as she recalls the moment. “Oh, I had not a clue at all. In fact, I thought I was going to have to call an ambulance for him! He was sweating so bad, his T-shirt was soaked, his face was beet red. He started saying these sweet, beautiful things, and I was like, ‘Paul, are you okay?’ Then I realized he was proposing.”
Back home, Dolores was greeted with over 1,000 roses arranged by Premiere Events by Reema — and a breathtaking 15-carat engagement ring from John Anthony Jewelers in Edgewater, New Jersey. The date, November 10, also carries sentimental value — it’s the same day Dolores moved in with Paul four years ago.
For now, the pair aren’t rushing down the aisle. “I’d love to get married the day we got engaged,” Paul says, “but we really want to enjoy this moment and absorb it all. We have Frankie’s wedding coming up, we’re talking about moving into a new house, and when we do get married, we want it to be perfect.”
Dolores adds, “There’s no rush. The way we’ve set our life up, we can do things however and whenever we want. I don’t do things based on what people think I should do. I’ve never done that.”
And yes, Dolores did end up with that new iPhone — something she’ll no doubt use to capture every celebration ahead. “I’m just glad Dolores won’t have to answer that question anymore — ‘When is this man going to propose to you?’” Connell jokes. “Me too,” she teases.
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