Pamela Howard recalls her wedding day with a hint of ruefulness. It was a humid, overcast August afternoon in Lake Wylie, and a sudden flood the night before knocked out the power. Guests were sweating. The cake was melting. And her event planner was panicking.

Now an event planner herself, Ms. Howard remembers this experience every time she sits down with clients to arrange everything from intimate catered dinners for two to extravagant weddings. “Things are going to happen,” she acknowledges. “But how you handle the unexpected as a professional—that’s what really makes the planner shine.”

For her part, Ms. Howard strives to ensure her events go off without a hitch by working closely with clients. She discusses their inspiration for their event face-to-face, and delves into their favorite foods, colors, flowers, and music. She’s gone to great lengths to make events successful, from tracking down a classical violinist at the last minute to recruiting a veritable army of servers to cater a celebrity’s 300-guest banquet. “Your job is to keep the client happy,” says Ms. Howard. “And you always have a plan B . . . even if that just means praying for a sunny day.”