RHONJ’s Dolores Catania Is Engaged: Inside the Apple Store Proposal

by

Dolores Catania is headed down the aisle.

Reality TV star from The Real Housewives of New Jersey is getting married to her boyfriend, Paul “Paulie” Connell, after dating for almost five years.

Dolores shared with People magazine that she was overjoyed. “It’s that deep, gut-level happiness,” she explained in a November 12th interview. “I feel incredibly lucky, almost to the point where I feel undeserving of all this love.”

Paul described 54-year-old Dolores as truly special, saying, “I constantly tell her she deserves all the good things life has to offer. She’s a remarkable person.”

Okay, let me tell you, Paul really knows how to make a statement! He proposed on November 10th with a truly stunning ring. We’re talking an incredible 11 carats total – a huge center stone surrounded by even more sparkle, plus a band absolutely covered in princess-cut diamonds. It’s a seriously glamorous piece!

Surprisingly, the 51-year-old businessman proposed to his partner on one knee at an Apple Store in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. This location is meaningful to them because it’s where they first met.

Paul shared that he considered many elaborate proposal ideas – like a yacht in Greece or a huge party with fireworks – but decided against them. He and his partner are a down-to-earth couple, and he wanted something genuine and unforced. He also really wanted to surprise her, and he definitely succeeded!

Viewers of Bravo’s Real Housewives of New Jersey have watched Dolores and Paul’s relationship develop over the last several seasons. However, Dolores has often said she didn’t want to get married until she felt the time was right.

Dolores, who shares her children Gabby, 29, and Frankie, 26, with her ex-husband Frank Catania, said she’s completely certain about something for the first time. She explained that patience has been key for them, especially with her partner Paul, who wasn’t initially comfortable with public attention or the scrutiny relationships face in the spotlight. He needed time to work through some personal issues, and she understood that.

I always wanted Paul to make the right decisions for himself, even when challenges arose on the show. Letting him come to those conclusions independently actually strengthened our connection. Because we grew as a couple at our own pace, this engagement feels truly meaningful – it’s not just something we’re doing because we feel like we should.

And Paul is on the exact same page.

He said it was the best decision he’d ever made, explaining that everything in his life had led him to this point. He expressed pride in his journey, especially considering where he started on the streets of Dublin, and shared how grateful he was to have Dolores in his life, as she’d helped him become a better person.

Keep reading to see more celebrities who got engaged this year.

The Selling the OC alum popped the question during a road trip in October.

Darius Rucker, the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish, revealed he’s engaged to a TikTok influencer known for her lifestyle content. They shared the news together on Instagram on October 8, 2025.

He wrote that she brought a joy into his life he’d never experienced before. From the moment they met, he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and now he wouldn’t have to live another day without her.

The couple, who rose to fame on Too Hot to Handle, welcomed their son, Reggie, in 2024 and announced they were engaged on October 7, 2025.

The actors announced their engagement on October 5th with a series of romantic photos shared on Instagram, and one of them wrote, “Engaged to the love of my life.”

Keith and Ryan announced their engagement just seven months after getting back together following a three-year breakup.

The former Little Mix member revealed she’s engaged to the rapper in September, just four months after giving birth to their twins.

Jesy posted pictures of Zion proposing to her at sunset on the beach, announcing that she’s engaged to her best friend.

Reality TV star from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills got engaged on September 3rd. Her fiancée, Keely, proposed on August 29th in West Hollywood, with around 35 of their loved ones – and the Bravo cameras – there to witness the moment.

Bozoma shared a powerful message: even after experiencing loss, it’s possible to heal, rediscover happiness, and find a love that truly deserves a commitment.

The soccer star and the model announced their engagement in August after eight years together. 

Georgina announced her engagement with a stunning photo of her diamond ring on Instagram, simply writing, “Yes, I do. In this life and all others.”

Following speculation about an engagement in July 2025, the actress from White Chicks announced she was getting married to her financial advisor three months later.

I actually met my partner through friends we had in common! It was such a fun and exciting way to connect, as I shared on the Juicy Scoop podcast.

I was so thrilled to hear that Alaska Thunderfuck, the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season two, is engaged to her amazing partner, Matthew Herrmann! It’s wonderful news and I’m sending them both so much love and congratulations!

Reality TV star, who finished second on season five, announced that her longtime partner, Matthew Herrmann, proposed to her on August 4th. She shared the news with Entertainment Weekly, explaining the proposal happened after a celebration for her grandmother’s 90th birthday.

 

The Set It Up actress got engaged in June 2025.  

Fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg shared exciting news: her granddaughter, Talita, and her boyfriend, Rocco Brignone, are engaged! They’ve been dating for almost seven years. Diane announced the happy news on Instagram with a lovely photo of the couple, writing, “Talita and Rocco are ENGAGED!!!” She continued, wishing them a joyful life together and declaring “LOVE is LIFE.” Talita quickly confirmed the engagement on her own Instagram, expressing her overwhelming love for Rocco.

The Victoria’s Secret model revealed she’s engaged to Tom, the father of her 4-year-old daughter, Tuulikki Joan, on September 10th.

She announced her engagement with a joyful “yes!” She shared that the proposal happened in a Swedish wildflower garden, a special place near their city apartment where they first met. They’ve been together for ten years.

The Indiana Pacers player popped the question to his college sweetheart at their alma mater.

He shared photos and a video on Instagram on July 28th of the romantic moment he proposed inside Illinois State University’s Hilton Coliseum, calling it ‘the place where our story started, and where our next chapter begins.’

Zac Brown, the lead singer of the Zac Brown Band, and his fiancée revealed they were engaged in July 2025. This came only two months after they first appeared as a couple at the American Music Awards.

“We are so happy and grateful, the couple told People at the time, “that we found each other.”

The tennis star announced she’s engaged to the Italian actor shortly after winning the Mubadala Citi DC Open on July 22nd, and shared that he inspired her comeback to tennis.

She shared that he really helped her cope with everything, and she was so happy to be there. It meant a lot to her because he’d never had a chance to watch her play before.

The actress from You announced her engagement to Ethan on Instagram on July 21st, saying she’s been openly sharing her love for him with everyone she meets.

Uma Jammeh and Wil Anderson, who met on season 11 of Love Island UK, are engaged. Jammeh announced the news on Instagram on July 14th, hinting that they’d been keeping a secret for a while.

On July 11th, the Disney Channel revealed she’s engaged to the basketball player, after he proposed to her by the pool at a resort overlooking the ocean.

Nicola Peltz Beckham’s brother and the youngest daughter of the late Quincy Jones announced they are getting married after being together for over ten years.

Oh my gosh, you guys, they’re ENGAGED! I nearly screamed when I saw Kenya’s Instagram post – a gorgeous black and white photo of her and her fiancé kissing on a boat! The caption… it just melted my heart. She said he’s her ‘whole heart for her whole life,’ and honestly, I think I cried a little. They’re so perfect together, I’m SO happy for them!

The singer-songwriter proposed to his girlfriend, who previously appeared on The Bachelor, after they had been dating for seven years. Hayley shared a photo of the proposal on Instagram on July 10th, excitedly announcing, “My dream girl said yes!”

Becca and her partner began dating in 2018 but didn’t share their relationship with the public until May 2022. After four years together, they felt secure and ready to go public, as Becca explained to TopMob News. “We felt very solid,” she said.

The actor, known for his role in Entourage, proposed to the actress from If Loving You Is Wrong on the Fourth of July while celebrating with family in Long Island, New York.

Kelly Osbourne got engaged to Slipknot member Sid Wilson while attending her father Ozzy Osbourne’s last Black Sabbath concert on July 5th. The proposal happened in front of close friends and family, including her mother, Sharon Osbourne, brother Jack Osbourne, and their son, Sidney.

Although he didn’t win Rachel Lindsay’s heart on The Bachelorette, he did find love and get engaged! He proposed to his girlfriend after a year of dating, sharing on Instagram that she was always the one for him and that he loves her.

The Big Time Rush singer and his longtime partner announced their engagement May 15.

Actors from The Vampire Diaries and The Originals revealed they are engaged on May 14th, confirming they’re a perfect couple.

I was so excited to watch the latest episode of 1000-Lb. Sisters and see that she’s engaged! Her boyfriend proposed to her inside a haunted house after just five months of dating – it was a total surprise and so sweet!

Simu Liu, known for playing the lead role in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, revealed he is engaged to his partner on May 11th.

Seven years after the death of Hugh Hefner, his widow got engaged on April 25 at her Hawaii home. 

The former Dancing With the Stars contestant recently became engaged to the singer while on vacation in Hawaii. Frankie shared on Instagram that their engagement was 13 years in the making.

Okay, so you won’t BELIEVE this! It’s been fifteen years since everyone was talking about me… you know, being involved with Tiger Woods when he was married to Elin Nordegren. It feels like a lifetime ago! But get this – I just found out I’m engaged! To a really great businessman, actually. It was announced on March 28th, and honestly, I’m so happy to be moving on and starting this new chapter. It’s a total fresh start!

Read More

2025-11-12 20:18