Is there a better way to tell them?

I'm eighteen years young, falling hard for this amazingly sweet guy whom I work with. He's nineteen, shy, sweet and so romantic. I really care about him, and we are both very close friends. We've known each other for about four months now, and we've recently -both of us- professed to really like the other. Here's where my problem occurs; how do I tell my parents. They're very strict and don't believe in dating. They think my dad should pick out some guy for us and just be happy. But the thing is, I've always felt that I would remain single if dad ever had a say in who I was with. But for the first time in my life, I'm happy. This guy makes me feel like I really matter, and he's not afraid to cry around me or tell me that he's scared of me because I have the ability to crush him emotionally if things were ever to change for the worse. He makes me feel special, and I'm happy being me because he likes me just the way I am. Since meeting him and becoming friends, I haven't hurt myself. It's amazing how happy he makes me. He's made me more happy in three months, then my parents have made me in eighteen years. We haven't really figured out if we're going to date or keep things simple while I figure out what to say to my parents, but we know that we can't just go back to being friends anymore. We both want more. How can I tell my parents without them freaking out though?