WITH the blushing bride dressed in white and her proud dad beaming next to her, it looks every inch the treasured memento of the biggest day of the happy couple’s life.

But in reality, Rachel Tomlinson’s wedding album – all 60 photos of it – is actually just an elaborate hoax that cost just £12.50 and little more than two hours to organise.

She and “husband” Nathan duped family and friends into believing they had staged a sudden secret wedding by posting the pictures on the pages of a social networking site.

The realistic photos even included the “newlyweds” apparently signing the register at Southampton’s Register Office, after they sneaked in between services when they found the door unlocked.

The good friends, who aren’t a couple, waited several hours before revealing to the dozens of people sending congratulatory messages it was all an April Fool’s joke.

Rachel, 36, an artist for Southampton-based All About Art from Burgess Road, said: “I had it all coming through on my phone, which went crazy for a while, and I was just sat giggling my head off.

“We had some lovely responses – I got lots saying welcome to the family, but we haven’t heard from most of them since.”

Rachel and Nathan, who is stationed abroad with the Armed Forces, came up with the idea months ago but only swung the plan into action when he unexpectedly got leave.

“He phoned and said he was back, so did I want to get married tomorrow?” said Rachel.

“My friend Tracy bought the dress for me when we saw it in a charity shop and thought I could wear it one day.

“My daughter had a veil from her Hallowe’en costume – luckily the blood washed out of it.”

Rachel’s dad Ivor agreed to give her away with her six-year-old son Leon,while daughters Poppy, 15, and 12- year-old Charlie were bridesmaids alongside matron of honour, Rachel’s sister Mary Tomlinson’s three-year-old daughter Farrah.

Nathan’s pal Ian Shaw played best man, and Rachel’s friend Hannah Scully took the photos.

Rachel said: “I think the reason people believed it is they think people can’t be good friends for that long and it not be romantic.”

She said she had “no regrets” about the prank, but admitted there is no chance of the fake wedding being replicated for real.

“This was fun – I’ve seen my friends’ stresses while they plan weddings, but I had no headache and it only cost me £12.50 for the flowers,” said Rachel.

“The pressure is on for next year now, but we’ll find something to top it.”