Setting Up DNS Records

Connecting Your Existing Domain

Already own a domain? Here's how to point it to your Marry The Details website.

Before You Start

You'll need:

• Access to your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, etc.)
• Ability to edit DNS records
• Your Marry The Details account

Time required: 15-30 minutes for setup, up to 48 hours for DNS propagation

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Get Your DNS Records

1. Go to Dashboard > Settings > Domain
2. Click Connect Existing Domain
3. Enter your domain name
4. We'll show you the DNS records to add:

Records you'll receive:

Type: A
Host: @
Value: [Our IP address]

Type: CNAME
Host: www
Value: [Our servers]

Step 2: Access Your Registrar

Log in to where you bought your domain:

• GoDaddy: [DNS Management](https://dcc.godaddy.com/domains)
• Namecheap: Domain List > Manage > Advanced DNS
• Google Domains: DNS > Custom records
• Cloudflare: DNS > Records

Step 3: Add the A Record

This points your root domain (example.com) to us:

1. Find "Add Record" or "Add DNS Record"
2. Select type: A
3. Host/Name: @ (or leave blank, depending on provider)
4. Value/Points to: [IP address from Step 1]
5. TTL: 3600 (or "1 hour")
6. Save

Step 4: Add the CNAME Record

This points www.example.com to us:

1. Add another record
2. Select type: CNAME
3. Host/Name: www
4. Value/Points to: [CNAME value from Step 1]
5. TTL: 3600
6. Save

Step 5: Verify Connection

1. Return to Marry The Details
2. Click Verify Domain
3. We'll check if DNS is configured correctly
4. If not ready yet, we'll tell you what's missing

DNS Propagation

After saving your DNS records:

• Changes take 15 minutes to 48 hours to spread globally
• Most updates complete within 1-2 hours
• Until complete, your site may not load on the custom domain
• Your subdomain continues working during this time

Checking propagation:

Use a tool like [whatsmydns.net](https://whatsmydns.net) to see if your changes have spread worldwide.

Troubleshooting

Domain not connecting after 48 hours:

• Double-check record values (no typos)
• Ensure no conflicting records exist
• Make sure you're editing the right domain
• Contact your registrar's support

"www" works but root domain doesn't:

• A record may be missing or incorrect
• Check for conflicting A records
• Remove any old A records pointing elsewhere

Getting certificate/HTTPS errors:

• Wait for full propagation
• SSL certificate needs 15-30 minutes after DNS propagates
• Contact us if issues persist

Common Registrar Guides

GoDaddy:

1. My Products > Domains > DNS
2. Add record with proper type
3. Save changes

Namecheap:

1. Domain List > Manage
2. Advanced DNS
3. Add New Record

Google Domains:

1. Select domain
2. DNS in left sidebar
3. Custom records section

Managing DNS Later

Once connected, you can:

• View current DNS status in Settings
• See when SSL certificate was issued
• Disconnect domain if needed
• Contact support for help

Pro Tip: Take screenshots of your DNS settings before making changes. If something goes wrong, you can easily restore the original configuration.