A shocking but heartwarming video has shown the moment a serial prankster proposed to his girlfriend after staging his arrest in a fake drug bust.
Gary Aronov, 34, contacted London-based company The Proposers and enlisted in their help in organizing a more unconventional way of popping the question.
The software salesman from Cleveland, Ohio, developed a plan to trick his girlfriend into thinking he had been arrested while they were on their way to dinner in Barcelona.
Aronov was arrested by the fake cops while his partner, 31-year-old Caeom Noeum, sobbed in the back of the mock police car.
The couple was then taken away under the ruse of identifying a local drug dealer, but were actually being led to a beauty spot in the city, Mirador del Alcalde, Mountjuic.
Aronov was then taken from the car to prepare and Noeum was escorted a short while later to find her partner on one knee, surrounded by candles.
‘We have planned over 1,000 marriage proposals however nothing was at all like Gary’s idea, a spokesperson for The Proposers said.
Gary Aronov, 34, of Cleveland, Ohio, hired London company The Proposers to organize the ultimate ‘prank-posal’ for his girlfriend Caeom Noeum, 31
Cheeky: Above Aronov is seen being ‘arrested’ for drug possession by actors posing as cops while Noeum sobbed in the back of the mock police car
Surprise: The couple was then taken away under the ruse of identifying a local drug dealer, but were actually being led to a picturesque lookout point in Mirador del Alcalde, Mountjuic that Aronov had decorated with flower petals and candles
‘Gary and Caeom were staying in a hotel in Barcelona. Earlier in the evening, Gary snuck out of the hotel while Caeom was getting ready, so he could meet the videographer and get his mic attached to his clothes, which was secretly hidden.
‘Caeom believed that they were “going out for a fabulous dinner”, and at 6pm the couple left their hotel.
‘As they were leaving, they were approached by undercover police, who displayed their badges so our couple would instantly stop.’
The fake police officers then began to accuse Aronov of buying drugs from a wanted local drug dealer and searched him. That’s when they found a ‘mysterious’ pot of marijuana, which had been planted in his pocket earlier.
The ‘drug’ in the pot was actually oregano, the company said.
‘The police then gave the couple two options, participate to identify the drug dealer at the police station, or don’t participate and they would call for further police officers to assist in the arrest.
‘Following the plan, Gary agreed to participate in the identification of the drug dealer which would take place at the police station.
‘The police proceeded to pin the couple against the police van and handcuff them both. They explained that because Caeom was with Gary that she had to be taken too for security reasons.
Aronov explained that he knew the stunt was the best way to propose because pranks and hi-jinks had always been part of the couple’s relationship
A happy ending: Noeum, described the proposal as the ‘scariest and happiest day of my life’
Above, the couple are pictured with the masterminds behind the prank. The Proposers were founded nearly six years ago, and since then have arranged over 1,000 successful marriage proposals
‘The couple were escorted into the car, where their reaction were captured by the secret hidden GoPro.
‘In the car, Caeom was crying her eyes out and explaining how “she doesn’t do drugs” and “she is innocent.”
‘As they arrived “at the police station,” Gary was escorted out of the car to identify the drug dealer,’ the Proposers said.
But Aronov was actually being taken to a picturesque lookout point in the city that he had decorated with flower petals and candles.
Noeum was soon guided to the spot and was completely in shock and crying her eyes out to realize the whole thing was all a prank.
Arnov got down on one knee and finally popped the question. The couple, who met on Match.com in 2015, married in an outdoor ceremony at Windows on the River in Cleveland on September 23 last year.
Noeum, who was not expecting her now husband to ask for her hand in marriage, said the event is one she will never forget.
‘The proposal day was our final day of the trip. We started our day in Park Guell and Gary supposedly made dinner plans for us at an upscale restaurant,’ the registered nurse said.
‘I did not see this proposal coming as Gary had been telling me for months not to expect one during our trip.
The couple married in an outdoor ceremony at Windows on the River in Cleveland on September 23 last year
‘He was a very good actor as I did not sense anything out of the ordinary.
‘He enjoys pranking me and takes a lot of pride in it. It was the scariest and happiest day of my life.
‘Our families knew of the plan and Gary’s mother did not like the idea of the prank-posal.
‘Our wedding day was beautiful, we tied the knot six months later in September.
‘We had a beautiful outdoor ceremony on the river with a skyline view of the city. I am truly the luckiest girl in the world.’
Aronov explained that he knew the stunt was the best way to propose because pranks and hi-jinks had always been part of their relationship.
‘We have always pranked each other – it has just been part of the relationship. So I just took it one step further and decided to incorporate it into the proposal’, he said.
‘She did a fake pregnancy prank on me and I’ve done everything from hiding and scaring her to ice water in the shower.
‘I knew I would be proposing and I thought it would be funny. I wasn’t worried about her reaction at all and I thought, “The more drama the better.” When I told my mom about it she was like, “Oh my gosh, don’t do that. She will freak out.”
‘But my dad was the opposite and he helped me with the plans. I knew it was going to be as raw as it could get and I didn’t want her bawling her eyes out but I didn’t mind her crying a little bit.
‘I knew that the end result would cure everything. I couldn’t wait to get it going as I love pranking her and I was excited about asking her to marry me.
The couple are pictured before their engagement. Gary and Caeom met on dating site Match.com in 2015
‘I was elated and ecstatic when she said yes. I got what I wanted! And she was very happy as well – or at least she said she was.
‘She definitely had the reaction I was going for. Now we are happily married and trying to conceive and start the next chapter in our lives.
‘I haven’t got any more pranks in store but we will remember the proposal for the rest of our lives.’
The Proposers were founded nearly six years ago, and since then have arranged over 1,000 successful marriage proposals.
But despite arranging proposals for painters, bankers, Arab royalty, and even porn stars, Gary’s proposal stands out.
A spokesperson said: ‘It was great to work with Gary on such a unique, fresh and completely different proposal.
‘A lot of our proposals are crazy and unique and a lot of our clients really want to get creative and personalised – so we really can work with anything!
‘Gary’s prank proposal was a challenge but we completely took it on board. We knew the end result would work because the couple are pranksters as Gary explained.
‘On the day of the event we were all very tense – despite having complete faith and trust in everyone involved in the proposal and knowing it would run perfectly, you just never know how the girlfriend will react.
‘Usually we want to make girls cry with happiness and not fear – so it was a very different one for our team of Proposal Planners.’