diff --git a/litecord/blueprints/channel/messages.py b/litecord/blueprints/channel/messages.py
index cf5d552..b1ef399 100644
--- a/litecord/blueprints/channel/messages.py
+++ b/litecord/blueprints/channel/messages.py
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ from litecord.snowflake import get_snowflake
 from litecord.schemas import validate, MESSAGE_CREATE
 from litecord.utils import pg_set_json
 
+from litecord.embed import sanitize_embed
+
 
 log = Logger(__name__)
 bp = Blueprint('channel_messages', __name__)
@@ -258,7 +260,7 @@ async def _create_message(channel_id):
             'tts': is_tts,
             'nonce': int(j.get('nonce', 0)),
             'everyone_mention': mentions_everyone or mentions_here,
-            'embeds': [j['embed']] if 'embed' in j else [],
+            'embeds': [sanitize_embed(j['embed'])] if 'embed' in j else [],
         })
 
     payload = await app.storage.get_message(message_id, user_id)
diff --git a/litecord/embed/__init__.py b/litecord/embed/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b77baa8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litecord/embed/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+from .sanitizer import sanitize_embed
+
+__all__ = ['sanitize_embed']
diff --git a/litecord/embed/sanitizer.py b/litecord/embed/sanitizer.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eb9921f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litecord/embed/sanitizer.py
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+"""
+litecord.embed.sanitizer
+    sanitize embeds by giving common values
+    such as type: rich
+"""
+from typing import Dict, Any
+from logbook import Logger
+
+from litecord.embed.schemas import EmbedURL
+
+log = Logger(__name__)
+Embed = Dict[str, Any]
+
+
+def _sane(v):
+    if isinstance(v, EmbedURL):
+        return v.to_json
+
+    return v
+
+
+def sanitize_embed(embed: Embed) -> Embed:
+    """Sanitize an embed object."""
+    return {**embed, **{
+        'type': 'rich'
+    }}
+
+
+def path_exists(embed: Embed, components: str):
+    """Tell if a given path exists in an embed.
+
+    The components string is formatted like this:
+        key1.key2.key3.key4. <...> .keyN
+
+    with each key going deeper and deeper into the embed.
+    """
+    if isinstance(components, str):
+        components = components.split('.')
+    else:
+        components = list(components)
+
+    if not components:
+        return True
+
+    current = components[0]
+
+    if current in embed:
+        return path_exists(embed[current], components[1:])
+
+    return False
+
+
+async def fill_embed(embed: Embed) -> Embed:
+    """Fill an embed with more information."""
+    embed = sanitize_embed(embed)
+
+    if path_exists(embed, 'footer.icon_url'):
+        # TODO: make proxy_icon_url
+        log.warning('embed with footer.icon_url, ignoring')
+
+    if path_exists(embed, 'image.url'):
+        # TODO: make proxy_icon_url, width, height
+        log.warning('embed with footer.image_url, ignoring')
+
+    if path_exists(embed, 'author.icon_url'):
+        log.warning('embed with author.icon_url, ignoring')
+
+    return embed
diff --git a/litecord/embed/schemas.py b/litecord/embed/schemas.py
index cace161..2caf82d 100644
--- a/litecord/embed/schemas.py
+++ b/litecord/embed/schemas.py
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ class EmbedURL:
         """Return the URL."""
         return urllib.parse.urlunparse(self.parsed)
 
+    @property
+    def to_json(self):
+        return self.url
+
 
 EMBED_FOOTER = {
     'text': {
diff --git a/litecord/gateway/websocket.py b/litecord/gateway/websocket.py
index 76bb68a..6c83512 100644
--- a/litecord/gateway/websocket.py
+++ b/litecord/gateway/websocket.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import earl
 from litecord.auth import raw_token_check
 from litecord.enums import RelationshipType
 from litecord.schemas import validate, GW_STATUS_UPDATE
-from litecord.utils import task_wrapper
+from litecord.utils import task_wrapper, LitecordJSONEncoder
 from litecord.permissions import get_permissions
 
 from litecord.gateway.opcodes import OP
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ WebsocketObjects = collections.namedtuple(
 
 
 def encode_json(payload) -> str:
-    return json.dumps(payload, separators=(',', ':'))
+    return json.dumps(payload, separators=(',', ':'),
+                      cls=LitecordJSONEncoder)
 
 
 def decode_json(data: str):
diff --git a/litecord/utils.py b/litecord/utils.py
index 330e67e..1aa693e 100644
--- a/litecord/utils.py
+++ b/litecord/utils.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import asyncio
 import json
 from logbook import Logger
+from typing import Any
+from quart.json import JSONEncoder
 
 log = Logger(__name__)
 
@@ -113,19 +115,27 @@ def mmh3(key: str, seed: int = 0):
     return _u(h1) >> 0
 
 
+class LitecordJSONEncoder(JSONEncoder):
+    def default(self, value: Any):
+        try:
+            return value.to_json
+        except AttributeError:
+            return super().default(value)
+
+
 async def pg_set_json(con):
     """Set JSON and JSONB codecs for an
     asyncpg connection."""
     await con.set_type_codec(
         'json',
-        encoder=json.dumps,
+        encoder=lambda v: json.dumps(v, cls=LitecordJSONEncoder),
         decoder=json.loads,
         schema='pg_catalog'
     )
 
     await con.set_type_codec(
         'jsonb',
-        encoder=json.dumps,
+        encoder=lambda v: json.dumps(v, cls=LitecordJSONEncoder),
         decoder=json.loads,
         schema='pg_catalog'
     )
diff --git a/run.py b/run.py
index 7479c79..a7185ce 100644
--- a/run.py
+++ b/run.py
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ from litecord.presence import PresenceManager
 from litecord.images import IconManager
 from litecord.jobs import JobManager
 
+from litecord.utils import LitecordJSONEncoder
+
 # setup logbook
 handler = StreamHandler(sys.stdout, level=logbook.INFO)
 handler.push_application()
@@ -71,6 +73,9 @@ def make_app():
     # always keep websockets on INFO
     logging.getLogger('websockets').setLevel(logbook.INFO)
 
+    # use our custom json encoder for custom data types
+    app.json_encoder = LitecordJSONEncoder
+
     return app