It's a tough one nicole, as we don't know how well you get on with your family and why your family would be against the relationship so much (i,e is he married to a relative, has he upset the family before or do your parents have someone in mind for you to marry already?), but you seem to have made your mind up to go (?)
I am presuming that your partner and self have discussed at length the possibility of your family never speaking to you again? I know I would be devastated if I was shunned by my family, and your family can be your absolute rock if things go wrong in your early adult life - trust me on this one.
I cannot know you as a person so cannot tell you what the right thing to do would be, But - I would sincerely urge you to wait for at least a couple of months, carry on as you are doing and see if the love is as strong as it is now. If he loves you, he should be able to wait a while before you start planning an escape, but running away can be a split second decision that may, or may not be the point of no return.
If you have made up your mind, have more than one back-up plan for security and please listen to the other AB'ers, and perhaps some close friends advice before you decide how to go forward. You are right, nothing can alter the love between a mother and child, but to upset them for the sake of an outsider could break the trust forever. All the best x