diff --git a/backend/db/entries.go b/backend/db/entries.go
index 9a2c28f..1b4b8cd 100644
--- a/backend/db/entries.go
+++ b/backend/db/entries.go
@@ -40,13 +40,13 @@ func (w *WordStatus) UnmarshalJSON(src []byte) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (w WordStatus) Valid(extra ...WordStatus) bool {
+func (w WordStatus) Valid(extra CustomPreferences) bool {
 	if w == StatusFavourite || w == StatusOkay || w == StatusJokingly || w == StatusFriendsOnly || w == StatusAvoid {
 		return true
 	}
 
-	for i := range extra {
-		if w == extra[i] {
+	for k := range extra {
+		if string(w) == k {
 			return true
 		}
 	}
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ type FieldEntry struct {
 	Status WordStatus `json:"status"`
 }
 
-func (fe FieldEntry) Validate() string {
+func (fe FieldEntry) Validate(custom CustomPreferences) string {
 	if fe.Value == "" {
 		return "value cannot be empty"
 	}
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func (fe FieldEntry) Validate() string {
 		return fmt.Sprintf("name must be %d characters or less, is %d", FieldEntryMaxLength, len([]rune(fe.Value)))
 	}
 
-	if !fe.Status.Valid() {
+	if !fe.Status.Valid(custom) {
 		return "status is invalid"
 	}
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ type PronounEntry struct {
 	Status      WordStatus `json:"status"`
 }
 
-func (p PronounEntry) Validate() string {
+func (p PronounEntry) Validate(custom CustomPreferences) string {
 	if p.Pronouns == "" {
 		return "pronouns cannot be empty"
 	}
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func (p PronounEntry) Validate() string {
 		return fmt.Sprintf("pronouns must be %d characters or less, is %d", FieldEntryMaxLength, len([]rune(p.Pronouns)))
 	}
 
-	if !p.Status.Valid() {
+	if !p.Status.Valid(custom) {
 		return "status is invalid"
 	}
 
diff --git a/backend/db/field.go b/backend/db/field.go
index 69a2b2e..285d5d4 100644
--- a/backend/db/field.go
+++ b/backend/db/field.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ type Field struct {
 }
 
 // Validate validates this field. If it is invalid, a non-empty string is returned as error message.
-func (f Field) Validate() string {
+func (f Field) Validate(custom CustomPreferences) string {
 	if f.Name == "" {
 		return "name cannot be empty"
 	}
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func (f Field) Validate() string {
 			return fmt.Sprintf("entries.%d: max length is %d characters, length is %d", i, FieldEntryMaxLength, length)
 		}
 
-		if !entry.Status.Valid() {
+		if !entry.Status.Valid(custom) {
 			return fmt.Sprintf("entries.%d: status is invalid", i)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/backend/db/user.go b/backend/db/user.go
index dc27b12..6d8e24f 100644
--- a/backend/db/user.go
+++ b/backend/db/user.go
@@ -498,8 +498,9 @@ func (db *DB) UpdateUser(
 	memberTitle *string, listPrivate *bool,
 	links *[]string,
 	avatar *string,
+	customPreferences *CustomPreferences,
 ) (u User, err error) {
-	if displayName == nil && bio == nil && links == nil && avatar == nil && memberTitle == nil && listPrivate == nil {
+	if displayName == nil && bio == nil && links == nil && avatar == nil && memberTitle == nil && listPrivate == nil && customPreferences == nil {
 		sql, args, err := sq.Select("*").From("users").Where("id = ?", id).ToSql()
 		if err != nil {
 			return u, errors.Wrap(err, "building sql")
@@ -541,6 +542,9 @@ func (db *DB) UpdateUser(
 	if listPrivate != nil {
 		builder = builder.Set("list_private", *listPrivate)
 	}
+	if customPreferences != nil {
+		builder = builder.Set("custom_preferences", *customPreferences)
+	}
 
 	if avatar != nil {
 		if *avatar == "" {
diff --git a/backend/routes/member/create_member.go b/backend/routes/member/create_member.go
index b18f8c8..3724cd6 100644
--- a/backend/routes/member/create_member.go
+++ b/backend/routes/member/create_member.go
@@ -103,15 +103,15 @@ func (s *Server) createMember(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) (err error
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err := validateSlicePtr("name", &cmr.Names); err != nil {
+	if err := validateSlicePtr("name", &cmr.Names, u.CustomPreferences); err != nil {
 		return *err
 	}
 
-	if err := validateSlicePtr("pronoun", &cmr.Pronouns); err != nil {
+	if err := validateSlicePtr("pronoun", &cmr.Pronouns, u.CustomPreferences); err != nil {
 		return *err
 	}
 
-	if err := validateSlicePtr("field", &cmr.Fields); err != nil {
+	if err := validateSlicePtr("field", &cmr.Fields, u.CustomPreferences); err != nil {
 		return *err
 	}
 
@@ -186,12 +186,12 @@ func (s *Server) createMember(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) (err error
 }
 
 type validator interface {
-	Validate() string
+	Validate(custom db.CustomPreferences) string
 }
 
 // validateSlicePtr validates a slice of validators.
 // If the slice is nil, a nil error is returned (assuming that the field is not required)
-func validateSlicePtr[T validator](typ string, slice *[]T) *server.APIError {
+func validateSlicePtr[T validator](typ string, slice *[]T, custom db.CustomPreferences) *server.APIError {
 	if slice == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ func validateSlicePtr[T validator](typ string, slice *[]T) *server.APIError {
 
 	// validate all fields
 	for i, pronouns := range *slice {
-		if s := pronouns.Validate(); s != "" {
+		if s := pronouns.Validate(custom); s != "" {
 			return &server.APIError{
 				Code:    server.ErrBadRequest,
 				Details: fmt.Sprintf("%s %d: %s", typ, i+1, s),
diff --git a/backend/routes/member/patch_member.go b/backend/routes/member/patch_member.go
index a61d620..4621401 100644
--- a/backend/routes/member/patch_member.go
+++ b/backend/routes/member/patch_member.go
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ func (s *Server) patchMember(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 		return server.APIError{Code: server.ErrMemberNotFound}
 	}
 
+	u, err := s.DB.User(ctx, claims.UserID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrap(err, "getting user")
+	}
+
 	m, err := s.DB.Member(ctx, id)
 	if err != nil {
 		if err == db.ErrMemberNotFound {
@@ -148,15 +153,15 @@ func (s *Server) patchMember(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err := validateSlicePtr("name", req.Names); err != nil {
+	if err := validateSlicePtr("name", req.Names, u.CustomPreferences); err != nil {
 		return *err
 	}
 
-	if err := validateSlicePtr("pronoun", req.Pronouns); err != nil {
+	if err := validateSlicePtr("pronoun", req.Pronouns, u.CustomPreferences); err != nil {
 		return *err
 	}
 
-	if err := validateSlicePtr("field", req.Fields); err != nil {
+	if err := validateSlicePtr("field", req.Fields, u.CustomPreferences); err != nil {
 		return *err
 	}
 
@@ -271,11 +276,6 @@ func (s *Server) patchMember(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	u, err := s.DB.User(ctx, claims.UserID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "getting user")
-	}
-
 	// echo the updated member back on success
 	render.JSON(w, r, dbMemberToMember(u, m, fields, true))
 	return nil
diff --git a/backend/routes/user/patch_user.go b/backend/routes/user/patch_user.go
index 0d3f9f8..5507b45 100644
--- a/backend/routes/user/patch_user.go
+++ b/backend/routes/user/patch_user.go
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ func (s *Server) patchUser(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 		req.Fields == nil &&
 		req.Names == nil &&
 		req.Pronouns == nil &&
-		req.Avatar == nil {
+		req.Avatar == nil &&
+		req.CustomPreferences == nil {
 		return server.APIError{
 			Code:    server.ErrBadRequest,
 			Details: "Data must not be empty",
@@ -105,15 +106,15 @@ func (s *Server) patchUser(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err := validateSlicePtr("name", req.Names); err != nil {
+	if err := validateSlicePtr("name", req.Names, u.CustomPreferences); err != nil {
 		return *err
 	}
 
-	if err := validateSlicePtr("pronoun", req.Pronouns); err != nil {
+	if err := validateSlicePtr("pronoun", req.Pronouns, u.CustomPreferences); err != nil {
 		return *err
 	}
 
-	if err := validateSlicePtr("field", req.Fields); err != nil {
+	if err := validateSlicePtr("field", req.Fields, u.CustomPreferences); err != nil {
 		return *err
 	}
 
@@ -201,7 +202,7 @@ func (s *Server) patchUser(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	u, err = s.DB.UpdateUser(ctx, tx, claims.UserID, req.DisplayName, req.Bio, req.MemberTitle, req.ListPrivate, req.Links, avatarHash)
+	u, err = s.DB.UpdateUser(ctx, tx, claims.UserID, req.DisplayName, req.Bio, req.MemberTitle, req.ListPrivate, req.Links, avatarHash, req.CustomPreferences)
 	if err != nil && errors.Cause(err) != db.ErrNothingToUpdate {
 		log.Errorf("updating user: %v", err)
 		return err
@@ -278,12 +279,12 @@ func (s *Server) patchUser(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 }
 
 type validator interface {
-	Validate() string
+	Validate(custom db.CustomPreferences) string
 }
 
 // validateSlicePtr validates a slice of validators.
 // If the slice is nil, a nil error is returned (assuming that the field is not required)
-func validateSlicePtr[T validator](typ string, slice *[]T) *server.APIError {
+func validateSlicePtr[T validator](typ string, slice *[]T, custom db.CustomPreferences) *server.APIError {
 	if slice == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -303,7 +304,7 @@ func validateSlicePtr[T validator](typ string, slice *[]T) *server.APIError {
 
 	// validate all fields
 	for i, pronouns := range *slice {
-		if s := pronouns.Validate(); s != "" {
+		if s := pronouns.Validate(custom); s != "" {
 			return &server.APIError{
 				Code:    server.ErrBadRequest,
 				Details: fmt.Sprintf("%s %d: %s", typ, i+1, s),
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 9b0a4f9..8cd6ce4 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/go-chi/render v1.0.2
 	github.com/gobwas/glob v0.2.3
 	github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v4 v4.5.0
+	github.com/google/uuid v1.3.0
 	github.com/jackc/pgx/v5 v5.3.1
 	github.com/joho/godotenv v1.5.1
 	github.com/mediocregopher/radix/v4 v4.1.2
@@ -40,7 +41,6 @@ require (
 	github.com/golang/groupcache v0.0.0-20200121045136-8c9f03a8e57e // indirect
 	github.com/golang/protobuf v1.5.3 // indirect
 	github.com/google/s2a-go v0.1.0 // indirect
-	github.com/google/uuid v1.3.0 // indirect
 	github.com/googleapis/enterprise-certificate-proxy v0.2.3 // indirect
 	github.com/gorilla/websocket v1.5.0 // indirect
 	github.com/jackc/pgpassfile v1.0.0 // indirect
diff --git a/scripts/seeddb/main.go b/scripts/seeddb/main.go
index acb91a2..a430e72 100644
--- a/scripts/seeddb/main.go
+++ b/scripts/seeddb/main.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func run(c *cli.Context) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	_, err = pg.UpdateUser(ctx, tx, u.ID, ptr("testing"), ptr("This is a bio!"), nil, ptr(false), &[]string{"https://pronouns.cc"}, nil)
+	_, err = pg.UpdateUser(ctx, tx, u.ID, ptr("testing"), ptr("This is a bio!"), nil, ptr(false), &[]string{"https://pronouns.cc"}, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("error setting user info:", err)
 		return err